The remnants of Hurricane Ike devastated Floyd and surrounding counties in September 2008, including a shredding of the decades-old yellow amphitheater covering. The same winds have blown new life into the New Albany Riverfront. It will take leadership and effort to keep it from dying out.
After the storms, New Albany Mayor Doug England combined insurance money, riverboat funds approved by the City Council and a $390,000 donation from the Clark-Floyd Counties Convention and Tourism Bureau, to purchase a permanent awning to protect New Albany’s outdoor venue. The cost was $700,000.
In our opinion, it was money well spent.
Had Ike not ripped up the old cloth awning, the riverfront would likely still have an old, dilapidated look that was more depressing than inspiring. However, the work on the Ohio River Greenway combined with the new stage and shell has proven the waterfront can be a draw. Now, it’s up to the city’s leaders and all of you reading this to keep it going.
The crowds have shown up — mostly on July 3 for fireworks and Ambrosia and last weekend for Celtic Fest. Downtown business traffic also increased. The weekly concert series on Friday nights has had its high and low points but more time to plan in 2010 will help ensure more consistently appealing events next summer. But the success so far has proven that people will come downtown. As a downtown community business and a media sponsor of this summer’s series of events, The Tribune is hoping that the crowds only grow to larger numbers.
In order to ensure long-term success, we’d like to offer some suggestions for discussion.
• Utilize corporate sponsorship funds. It may seem tacky to some to sell the naming rights but doing so can help generate some solid startup money to make further improvements (like replacing and updating the generic “welcome” rocks) and pay for bigger talent.
• City leaders either quickly need to authorize a formal riverfront entertainment committee or contract an experienced and successful company that specializes in event planning in exchange for some of the revenue brought in by events.
• Keep as many events as possible free to the public but don’t rule out those revenue streams such as charging vendors to be present. Downtown businesses will want and need to capitalize on the traffic. One destination doesn’t make a vibrant district.
• Promote it! This is something New Albany does not do well currently. For this riverfront to grow it’s going to be necessary to get the word out to people that may not be in the city or downtown that often. This doesn’t have to be expensive if planned well and done creatively.
• It’s a levee. Get over it! Just like the shortage of bridges, let’s take the fact that there’s a big land mass blocking the view of the water and play off it with some humor and creativity. In Buffalo, there are thousands of T-shirts sold with the slogan: “It’s Buffalo. It snows. Get over it!” New Albany actually hosts several of Southern Indiana’s largest marketing companies. Let’s tap into some of that knowledge.
The public has complained for years about not having a viable riverfront. Those days are over. The summer of 2009 has proven New Albany’s riverfront is alive and well.
Our Opinion editorials are consensus viewpoints of the editorial board of The (New Albany) Tribune
EDITORIAL BOARD Steve Kozarovich, publisher & executive editor; Chris Morris, region editor; Mary Tuttle, display advertising manager
Columns
TRIBUNE EDITORIAL: Keep waterfront New Albany crowds coming
- Columns
-
-
CLERE: Walkout is absurd
The walkout by Indiana House Democrats entered its third week yesterday as tensions continued to rise and misinformation proliferated.
-
LADD: New Albany has new energy
New Albany is evolving. Public art has become more prevalent in the downtown, drawing more locals and outside visitors to our community; bringing more publicity.
-
DODD: Vegas is always a good bet
It was the Dodd family in Las Vegas. We went ostensibly to celebrate my son Cameron’s 17th birthday. That was simply a smoke screen. My real plan was an early retirement from my ill-gotten casino fortune. Before my risky sojourn we had many hours of family fun.
-
STAWAR: I’m not exaggerating, I’m aspiring
Exaggeration is a commonplace phenomenon. For one thing, it lies at the heart of the advertising industry.
-
NASH: Holding officials to higher standards
A few weeks ago in my weekly column, I discussed a growing trend of people, mostly elected officials, who believed that they are above the law.
-
HARBESON: It’s super living in Indiana
My husband and I attend an annual Super Bowl party, which is normally a small gathering of friends, but this year our host’s home was bursting with guests.
-
GESENHUES: The Susan G. Komen precedent
My mom is a breast cancer survivor.
I have walked many a mile in support of the cause and raised a sizable number of dollars for breast cancer research. The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure initiatives are not lost on me. -
BEAM: Just smile
Whispers will soon abound outside of school as the corporation enters negotiations this summer with the teacher’s union over a new contract. Aides are not covered under the union.
-
HOWEY: Keeping Peyton in the Hoosier pantheon
The critics of keeping Manning suggest he would return to a team struggling to contend. I’m not buying that. The Colts were decimated for a second consecutive year with injuries, particularly on defense. With the top choice in each round, they can quickly reset, as San Francisco and Cincinnati did this year.
-
CUMMINS: How to live a stable life
Then I heard Newt Gingrich say that he will establish a colony on the moon by the end of his second term. I’d vote for him if he would go.
- More Columns Headlines
-
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
