The Evansville Downtown Riverfront renovation encompasses a one-third mile long concrete floodwall and its sloped concrete riverbank area. An earlier accessible wharf area had been permanently inundated by the construction of new upstream and downstream Ohio River dams that established a higher normal pool elevation for improved navigation of the river. Over the years, the remaining concrete elements of the old wharf and floodwall had deteriorated to an unattractive and embarrassing state.

The space provided the most prominent view of the Ohio River from the Evansville Downtown. Unfortunately, the deteriorated features of the floodwall kept many visitors from using the space and enjoying the connection to the river.

Storrow Kinsella Associates, as the design lead for a multidisciplinary team, led the planning and design process for the overall project.

Design activities consisted of conceptual planning through design development of all elements, including furnishing, fixtures, and landscape. In addition, the landscape architect prepared the construction documents for the Esplanade level and the Riverside Drive streetscape. See illustrative plans [here].

The design team, along with the City of Evansville and the Army Corps of Engineers, worked to transform the crumbling and marginally accessible riverfront back to a place of pride.

The project has renewed the top-of-levee Esplanade into tree-edged parallel pedestrian and bicycle paths that make up the downtown portion of Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage. An historic timeline traces the city’s riverfront history on stainless steel plaques that are placed along the walkway and at river viewing platforms.

Wayfinding and Graphics were developed for banners, information/ locational signs and interpretive signs.  Materials ranged from stainless steel letters applied on concrete, solid resin panels with imbedded graphics, vinyl appliqué on sheet aluminum, and etched stainless steel plaques.

Graceful stairs break the levee wall barrier to access tiered seating that cascades down to the lower level Dress Plaza. A traffic-calmed undulating drive provides total accessibility, pleasure craft launching access, and events staging access. The curvilinear walls that reinforce the floodwall also provide seating for up to 5,000 people.

Storrow Kinsella Associates worked with the City to develop an innovative method to purchase the trees needed for the project.  Instead of the trees being purchased through the general contractor, SKA acted as the City's agent to locate and negotiate the purchase of the best cultivars available in the size necessary to achieve a nearly instant streetscape.  The planting operations and maintenance were included in the general contract.