I have found the park a great place to enjoy the outdoors as an escape from apartment setting with scarce green spaces. Its an enjoyable place to relax, lay in the sun, walk and read a good book. There are times that are more relaxing than others, such as during the week early afternoon to early evening. I used to take my dog (since deceased) and let him enjoy running off the leash in the Grover's Bend or Fox's bend area. On very hot days I've enjoyed a dip (very carefully) in the river to cool off. I think its a great place for families and groups to get together and enjoy the outdoors.

I spend a lot of time in Riverside Park. Police presence is frequent to constant. The duck pond is beautiful. I hear Red River is on the list to be fixed. The zoo is wonderful. Access to the river is much better with the new canoe entrance/exit. The river banks have been cleared in a couple areas and the grass is always cut. The pump house restaurant will be a great attraction, kudos to the city for taking an eyesore with an annual expense and putting it back on the tax rolls. The restrooms need work but the federal government won’t let the city touch them because they are in the flood way (or so I’m have heard) I have also heard foxes and grovers bend may be re-opened in the future and there is a plan being worked on to create a much expanded hike and bike trail.

The duck pond has river rats in it! The ducks and geese poop all over the place. There is crime in the park such as DRUGS but guess some people do not consider the drug traffic in the park crime. Oh and what about the vandalism? Guess thats not crime. Like I said if the had less crime I would use it. The maintenance is horrible. The river is grown up and the grass is always high. There is a truck in the river near the littl island but the police said it would cost too much to pull out or that was what I was told. Anyway its a blemish for Victoria.

The other side of the river is private property, Joe.

Riverside Park. Ah, the memories.

There were once a few peacocks roaming. Has anyone seen any lately? Otters recently frequented the duck pond. They were a treat to watch.

I miss the old train that once ran about it. The Zoo has come a long way from the old days.

These days Glenda and I drive thru occasionally. She asked me a couple of days ago but work had me too worn out to peel myself up to go. When we do go we stop at the duck pond or take a walk down by the river next to the fairways just down from the rose garden.

I think the park still has a lot of potential that is yet to be realised. I say expand, expand, expand. There needs to be things to do on both sides of the river!

Red River going into the park is embarrassing.

The duck pond is dire need of a renovation.

Riverside GC is looking good (new greenskeeper). The greens are in excellent shape right now.

Even the loose of appearance of maintenance of Riverside would improve it a great deal. Just look at the rough old streets leading in and out of the park. Wonder why out-of-towners are turned off?

The Zoo is cool for it's size, the Golf Course is ok, Rosebud Field is a relic-but fair, the duck pond is barely passable, the picnic areas unmown and dirty, and the access to the river is horrible.

i also noticed the four police cars in the park at once. figured the city got a ton of complaints last week about something.

siub: Yes, I definitely want and solicited your input. You made an unsubstantiated claim in your comment, however. I meant to send you a personal note about it, too, but I hope this answer suffices.

Thanks -- Gabe.

some of the parking pork money should have been used to build a children's playground by the zoo.

Would be nice if they brought the train back added some eating places other than the current project.

It's not bad. I run there occasionally when I'm in town. It just seems like its never busy unless its a holiday like Easter.

Not a bad park for a town Victoria's size. Much nicer during the week. Definitely not a place to relax on weekends with all the muscle cars competing with each other to see who has the loudest speakers.

I remember the park back in the 60's and it was remarkable. A cooler and a book and a big old shade tree and i was go to go. The park was twice the size it is now.

People seem quick to suggest the park is riddled with crime. Cochran on Tuesday noted that just because some visitors play loud music, it does not necessarily suggest they are criminals.

Here's from Bruce Ure, the city's assistant city manager and its former police chief:

"An allegation of Riverside Park being an area with elevated crime is simply not correct. Police calls for service are extremely low in our parks, including Riverside.

Unfortunately though, we are faced with the occasional vandalism, which we take very seriously. Our officers do patrol the Riverside restroom area, because in the past, we have unfortunately uncovered some limited criminal activity in the area.

VPD’s tolerance in this area is truly zero, because our parks are there for safe, family fun and our officers take great pride in our city facilities."

-- Gabe

vicad needs to post crime stats for the park.

it's heavily used weekday afternoons. something needs to be built on the zoo side of the park and an improved running/walking trail would be nice to see.

I always enjoy Riverside Park. It is one of my Sunday strolls when we drive through town.

I would use the park more if it wasnt for the crime that goes on there. All kinds of crime!