When the late Bernie Goldstein went to Des Moines 20 years ago to convince state legislators on the economic benefits of low-stakes riverboat gambling, his pitch included a large full-color artist's rendition depicting Bettendorf's "future" riverfront.
Next to a new hotel and graceful Lady Luck riverboat was the future "Mark Twain Amusement Park." Upstream were a number of multi-story condominiums overlooking a marina.
Taking a cue from the vision Goldstein laid out for legislators, city leaders soon added to its mission/vision statement that Bettendorf is "where we enjoy a vibrant riverfront."
Today, the amusement park site between Leach Park and the Isle of Capri hotels remains an empty deteriorating asphalt parking lot looking much the same as it was in 1991. Instead of attracting tourists to a family theme park next to the Mississippi River, the site draws monthly crowds of buyers bidding on hundreds of used semi-trailer trucks.
The riverfront land upstream from the casino boat where condos were shown in the drawings also remains vacant. After disposing of sand and mud dredged from around the riverboat a year ago, the site is partially landscaped with small trees planted along two large berms.
"Vibrant" -- pulsating with life, virgor, or activity -- doesn't come to mind when walking along Bettendorf's riverfront.
To be sure, riverboat gambling promoters aren't the only ones who haven't lived up to their promises. City leaders have largely turned their collective backs on the riverfront as well.
After spending years acquiring land adjacent to Leach Park, and more than $700,000 removing the infamous "lime pile," the city essentially stopped any development of the site. At one point, the city even considered selling the land for industrial use. Today, the city uses the deteriorating warehouse next to lime pile property for storing road salt and recycling bins.
In Davenport and Rock Island, vibrant actually is a palpable feeling along their recently improved riverfronts. New parks have been added or expanded. New children spray parks, skateparks, playgrounds, riverfront bandshells and overlooks are bringing people to their downtowns and riverfronts.
Our city needs to recognize the gambling boat isn't going to revitalize the riverfront or downtown corridor.
It needs to end truck auctions which regularly violate terms of the special use permit granted for the riverfront property zoned for recreational use.
It needs to demolish the dilapidated buildings it now uses for salt and recycling bin storage.
It needs to invest in actual riverfront enhancements that provide public use and access, not projects which just feed gambling interests.
And, it needs to take a new, tougher approach in its relationship with the Isle management to insure the city is not left with an asphalt parking lot, truck auctions and blight on the riverfront 20 years in the future.
Absent such changes in city planning and policy, the vision of a "vibrant riverfront" will remain an illusion.
