Alton, Illinois Receives an Outstanding Planning Award
The St. Louis Metropolitan Section of the Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association has selected the City of Alton to receive an Outstanding Planning Award for Implementation for The Alton, IL Marina/Riverfront District Master Plan.
In 1991, the Alton riverfront consisted of an outdated lock and dam, an aging two-lane highway bridge, an abandoned railroad bridge, a scrap yard, a lumberyard and railroad tracks and one city park amongst the heavily industrialized area. Thanks to some key infrastructure changes, and the vision and creativity of the Marina/Riverfront District Master Plan, today a casino, a much improved and larger park, a riverfront promenade, a several thousand seat outdoor amphitheater, picnic shelters, an iconic bridge over the Mississippi River and a brand new pedestrian bridge connecting the riverfront to the city have been implemented according to the original plan. Over the past two decades the successful use of public participation, inter-governmental partnerships, public and private investments, and sound planning principles have allowed residents of Alton to reconnect with their riverfront.
