Burlington City plans to upgrade Delaware Riverfront area

BURLINGTON CITY, N.J. (WPVI) -- The Delaware Riverfront in Burlington is a beautiful piece of property with a great view and the city plans to make the most of it.

A $7-million makeover of the promenade has been designed by Philadelphia-based OLIN studio and includes a playground, expanded walkways, shady groves and a band shell for concerts shaped like the bow of the boat.

"This is a great place to have major events, minor events, enjoy the river, recreation, it's a connector," City Business Administrator John Alexander said.

The city wants to draw more people to the riverfront hoping that will help revitalize the downtown business district.

"Our plan is by bringing restaurants and things that would attract people that we really can build the foot traffic up downtown," City Business Administrator Dave Ballard said.

There's currently work going on to create a traffic circle at the end of High Street near the river to make it easier to get in and out of town and plans are moving ahead to build a 183 unit apartment building across from the promenade.

"I do see people down here, but I think it will definitely bring more people down here, I mean, it's beautiful," Stephanie Kleeman of Cherry Hill said.

Bobby Palentchar is one of the regulars who come to the waterfront to fish or just stroll along the Delaware.

"This area is kind of bland right now so to have some new stuff in here would be really great because a lot of people come here," Palentchar said.

New stuff like an overlook near the Burlington Bristol Bridge, a boat launch, and real bathrooms to replace the Port-o-Johns.

Local officials have the concept of what the waterfront could look like, now the hard part: they have to figure out how to pay for it.

"Whether it's going to be grants, whether it's going to be loans, or whether it's something has some funding from the city. It's certainly something we are going to do by hook or by crook," Mayor Jim Fazzone said.

Officials say it may take years to complete the waterfront makeover, but they believe it will transform this river town.