Not quite a year ago Murray City took over the management of Riverview Park from the county. The 6.1-acre park is located at 5844 S. 700 West. Riverview Jr. High sits just to the north, and the park is easily accessible from several neighborhoods. 

“We plan to bring the park up to Murray standards,” Bruce Holyoak, Murray Parks & Rec superintendent, said. “I’ve wondered why Murray hasn’t always managed this park. It’s in the heart of Murray and we think people will be pleasantly surprised and happy about the improvements.”

The existing playground has been torn down and installation of the new equipment is scheduled for mid-March. Once fully installed, the playground will be surrounded by a poured-in-place protective surface which will make the playground easily accessible for children of all abilities.

The protective surface will be colored to look like a river rushing through a field, with a nod to the name of the park, Riverview.   

There will still be swings and slides, but the new play space will also include a climbing rope area and will be up to date with improved safety standards.  

Additionally, the existing tennis courts will be resurfaced, providing six pickleball courts. The lighting will be repaired and upgraded with neighborhood-friendly lights with little spillage outside of the court. 

“We think the community will be happy about the courts, as the ones in Murray Park are very heavily used,” Holyoak said. “In fact, at Germania Park we’ve painted lines on the basketball courts in an attempt to meet demand.” 

There will be work done on the existing pavilion with new tables and improved lighting. Path lighting will be upgraded to operate on a solar system with light-pollution reducing bulbs that will dim in the later evening. The existing restrooms are fairly new and will stay essentially the same.

Murray resident Katara Martin indicated she hopes they keep the shade trees. “I feel like it’s the only park cool enough to be used in the summer.” 

Resident Jen Schones Chappell agrees, but still hopes for shade canopies over the playground. 

According to Holyoak, the park has a decent canopy of trees and shade sails are not planned for the site. There may be a bit of tree maintenance for the health of the trees, but there will be no significant trimming of the foliage canopy.

Some residents are nostalgic for a BMX track that used to be in the neighborhood. “Actually, the track was in an undeveloped subdivision near the park,” Holyoak said. “It wasn’t part of the park itself, and there are no plans to build one here.”

Murray City received a grant of $400,000 from TRCC funds from the county for the upgrade. It is hoped that the entire facelift will not exceed $700,000. 

The new and improved Riverview Park should be fully functional by the beginning of July, though there are no plans for a ribbon-cutting celebration on the calendar at this time. λ