The City of Porterville has announced the completion of the third phase of the Tule River Parkway Project. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11 at 8:30 a.m. to mark this milestone.
This latest phase introduces a Class I bicycle and pedestrian trail that stretches between Main and Plano streets, expanding the original 1.25-mile route further east. The project aims to clean up the Tule River and provide accessible nature trails for local residents, offering new alternative travel options in the area.
The new section of trail includes solar-powered lighting, bridges, a retaining wall, as well as updated signage and markings. More than 30 garden areas featuring native California plants have also been established along the parkway. These gardens will be maintained by volunteers from the Tule River Parkway Association (TRPA), a nonprofit organization focused on preserving and developing public spaces in the region.
After its masterplan was adopted in 1992, work on the parkway began with an initial phase in 2002 followed by a second phase in 2005. However, funding shortages delayed further progress for nearly twenty years until this year’s completion of phase three.
In 2023, flooding caused significant damage throughout South Porterville’s Rio Vista Community—destroying homes, walkways, public buildings near flood zones, and other infrastructure—and eroded about 230 feet of riverbank behind homes south of Date Avenue between Main and Plano streets. The aftermath required redesigning part of the parkway before construction could continue.
Funding for this stage came from a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) grant. Construction was carried out by American Paving Co., which completed repairs to damaged banks in May, added slurry rip rap for erosion control, installed foundation footings for a pedestrian bridge, and reinstalled a bridge previously damaged during last year’s floods.
The city hopes that with these improvements, residents will have greater access to natural areas while benefiting from enhanced recreational infrastructure.
