Union City's Riverview Park has reopened to the public after a comprehensive redesign that made the riverside space fully accessible, swapping out an originally planned pedestrian bridge for two new overlook decks extending over the St. Joseph River. The project, funded by an $850,000 Michigan Spark Grant, delivered newly paved pathways, fresh benches, a modern drinking fountain, and improved access for launching kayaks or tubing.
The park's renovation wasn't always going to look like this. As reported by WTVB, the project was originally envisioned as “River's Path: Connecting Parks, Bridging Communities,” with plans for a pedestrian bridge spanning the river to directly link Riverview Park with Heritage Cultural Park. That ambition hit a wall when construction bids surged past $1.9 million — more than double the state grant amount — forcing the village to redesign the project around river overlook decks, ADA-compliant paved pathways, lighted walkways, and improved kayak access, according to a statement from the Village of Union City.
Rising Costs Forced a Rethink
The project's initial concept exceeded available grant funding, but local officials still had a hard deadline: state grant terms required all construction funded by the Spark Grant to wrap up by October 2026.
Rather than forfeit the money, the village pivoted to the overlook decks and accessibility upgrades now open to visitors. Site work and temporary park closures for the broader $850,000 multi-park renovation initiative officially began the week of June 8, the same account notes.
Nearly Complete, With a Few Finishing Touches
Village officials say the renovations are mostly complete and open for business, though minor finishing touches remain. Riverview Park is also set to receive new basketball hoops in the near future, per the station's reporting on the reopening.
Minutes from a Village Council meeting in September, reported by Citizen Portal, showed Village Manager Christopher Mathis saying concrete pouring at Riverview Park was scheduled for Wednesday, with concrete seating improvements for the nearby Heritage Cultural Park amphitheater planned for October. The same coverage noted the village pulled in nearly $2,000 by accepting public bids on the old playground equipment removed during the upgrades.
Next Up: Heritage Park and the Village Green
Riverview Park's completion marks the beginning of a broader community initiative, with construction crews shifting focus to Heritage Cultural Park and the Downtown Village Green, where similar revitalization and outdoor accessibility improvements are planned. Updated plans for the Downtown Village Green were presented to the Village Council, according to the same Citizen Portal report.
The Spark Grant program that made the Riverview Park overhaul possible traces back to a $65 million allocation in Governor Gretchen Whitmer's March 2022 Building Michigan Together Plan, funded through federal American Rescue Plan Act relief dollars, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Council of Michigan Foundations reported that 29 Michigan “opportunity communities” shared $24.2 million in final-round Spark Grant funding, underscoring just how competitive the process was for small municipalities like Union City.
A Long History on the Riverbank
Riverview Park has a history that predates the state grant. The park offers carry-in boat access for regional paddlers. The park's history includes a “Take Back Your Park” event dated August 19, 2012.
