Riverfront Park

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The city purchased a 6.6-acre tract of land for North Waterfront Park in 2013. The park, located along the Cape Fear River near the Isabel Holmes Bridge, includes a large concert venue, festival space, playground, and interactive water feature, as well green space, plazas, gardens, and natural areas. The concert venue is managed by Live Nation.

The park was partially funded by the 2016 Parks Bond. The completion of this signature urban park fulfills a long-standing goal to provide a sizable open space for residents and visitors to downtown Wilmington to enjoy.

Service & Rotation Levels

Service Level: 1 

Rotation: 10 Days 


Amenities

The park has numerous amenities including:

  • Live Oak Bank Pavilion 
  • Riverfront stage
  • Riverfront lawn
  • Performance lawn
  • Back of stage/house facilities
  • Great lawn
  • Water feature & terrace
  • Festival plaza
  • Play area
  • Outdoor rooms
  • Urban gardens
  • Box office
  • Parks office
  • Public restrooms 

Park Rules & Hours

General Park Hours
Open to the public from sunrise to sunset, except for during city-approved events/programs.

Water Feature Hours
April through October
Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Park Rental Hours
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday,  except for during city-approved events/programs.

Operating Hours for Amphitheater Events:

  • Monday-Friday: 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. *No sound checks before 3 p.m. unless authorized by the City Manager or designee in writing prior to the event. 
  • Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Sundays: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

NOTE: If an amphitheater event is delayed or disrupted by unforeseeable circumstances or artist delay, the end time may be extended to midnight. Under no circumstances shall any concert event end later than midnight.

The East Garden and playground are open to the public daily, including concert dates. Please access these areas through the Nutt Street Promenade; directional signs will be out on concert dates.

Parking

Parking is available downtown on the street, parking decks and parking lots.

View information about downtown parking

Day of Event Parking for Live Oak Bank Pavilion

Parking map for the venue(PDF, 6MB)

Day of event parking for individuals with ADA placard

The drop off area for individuals with ADA placard is at the intersection of Harnett St and Nutt Street. This is directly in front of the entrance for the park. Patrons with valid accessible parking license plates or hanging tags may park for free at any on-street metered space for an unlimited time.  Patrons with a valid accessible parking license plate or hanging tag may also park in the off-street parking garages and surface lots for an unlimited time when paying the posted hourly rates.

ADA parking map for the venue

Questions? Please call Parking Manager Chance Dunbar at 910-342-2786.

Project History

In 2013, the city purchased a 6.6-acre tract of land for the park along the northern downtown waterfront, near the Isabel Holmes Bridge. An extensive public input campaign was conducted to get feedback about what citizens wanted in the park. The input was used to develop the North Waterfront Park Master Plan(PDF, 7MB) (now Riverfront Park), approved by City Council in 2016.

  • Park Designer: Hargreaves Jones
  • Contractor: Clancy Theys
  • Project Director: Amy Beatty
  • Project Managers: Anne Ballweg, Denise Freund & Mike Naklicki

The park is partially funded by the voter-approved 2016 Parks Bond.

December 2020

The park received WEDG Certification.
News Story

Nov. 19, 2019 City Council Meeting 

Nov. 5, 2018 City Council Agenda Briefing

April 16, 2018 City Council Meeting 

March 2, 2015 Meeting - Public Input Results

May 22, 2014 Public Input Meeting

Sponsors

The City of Wilmington would like to thank the following park sponsors

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Non-Concert Events

All non-concert events (to be held at Riverfront Park/Live Oak Bank Pavilion) will be displayed below.


Location

10 Cowan Street, Wilmington 28401  View Map

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