When You See It Coming

I posted this to my Facebook page first --- but if I could have, it would have been simultaneously.


Sure, we all have ideas. Many times over you'll find that what you think is new --- is really an idea that is shared with others.

The Spectrum Entertainment Group met last night in downtown Alton IL. I was invited to attend the meeting and came away with nothing but positive vibes. The Spectrum Entertainment Group will be putting on shows in Alton and the Riverbend area. It's already made up of people who not only know the entertainment industry, but who have worked in the technical, performance, and other aspects of what is commonly referred to as "entertainment". It is very apparent to me that the group has some easily attainable - yet, lofty - goals set before them, including several I wholeheartedly believe can be done over the next months.

In a matter of speaking, the title of this note is because --- tooting my own horn here --- I could see this coming when I moved to Alton permanently. I've always been part of the Alton/Riverbend area because of my family --- now I not only reside here, but work here. And when I started coming to the local events last year, I could see something big was about to take place, due in large part to the completion of the beautiful Riverfront Amphitheater along the Mississippi River in downtown Alton. It was when I took my first walk around that amphitheater and in the Riverfront Park area that I came to realize that this was not going to be kept a secret: Alton was about to become a destination for more than tourists. I could easily see the entire area, amphitheater, downtown Alton (you HAVE to see how beautiful it looks at night when you go for a stroll --- sure, there are some things which still need to be fixed up, but when those are "going", this will be as wonderful as any city in the world), and up and down the Riverbend - Grafton, Godfrey, Bethalto, Wood River, East Alton, Fosterburg, Cottage Hills, Rosewood Heights, etc. - there will be plenty of places where musicians and singers and comedians and stage acts and performers come to display their talents. And (what's more is that) it is all readily accessed due to the various modes of transportation --- train, plane, boat, and vehicular traffic all have easy access to Alton and the Riverbend.

Now, the Spectrum Entertainment Group exists. From a few phone calls, emails, and personal discussions which started in April 2010, has come a group with the power to produce and promote shows at the venues in the area. With the existence of several businesses which hire bands and other acts already in place, this group foresees the Riverbend in almost an identical way to what I had envisioned before I knew anything about them: this area can soon be an entertainment centerpiece for the nation and world.

Already, there are discussions with venues, venue operators, bands, and the media taking place to ensure that this is not something left as a discussion group. This is already happening, folks. If you don't jump in now, you'll miss the early days of something that will change the world of entertainment.

There's more which is positive: this group wants to produce and promote a WIDE RANGE of artists. They plan to do work with and for non-profit groups as part of their community outreach. This is not a bunch of "me, me, me" people --- this is a group that believes in "we all have opportunities to see the benefits" of such an operation. They are expecting slow, reasonable growth through partnerships, not expecting the entire world to come in an instant --- but expecting to realize such potential over a relatively short period of time. Additionally on the plus side is finding out that SEG is looking to hire the locals for large events at Riverfront Amphitheater, and is looking for the community to tell them what they would like to see (performers) and where. It is a feedback-oriented group who are genuinely looking for the input from the average person. They ENCOURAGE emails and comments - not blow off the idea of communications. I believe this separates them from others and shows class and style.

Addtionally, although there are no new hotels and motels YET, the city of Alton is working toward the goal of having at least one developed soon along the downtown and riverfront area. This doesn't even take into consideration the bed and breakfast community in the greater Alton area, the existing hotels, or the nearby lodging at places like Pere Marquette Lodge or the dozens of places available along the rivers and across the region of Alton and St. Louis.

For those who are wanting to know more, contact the Spectrum Entertainment Group through their webpage on FACEBOOK:

http:// www.facebook.com/spectrumentertainmentgroup

--- or email them at: spectrumentgroup@gmail.com


This is interesting to note: this group is coming up on an occasion where it will be announcing the first in a set of concerts and/or performances in the area. But they are also looking for corporate sponsors to enable them to help promote the expected growth of the names involved in the concerts. If you are a Riverbend area sponsor - even a potential sponsor - you should think seriously about contacting Spectrum Entertainment Group about becoming a corporate sponsor.

I'm already planning to help spread the word, and can easily see the newly-formed Spectrum Entertainment Group will be beneficial to the region.

If I had not already told so many people that I could see this coming, I think I'd be called a bandwagon jumper-on-er (or something like that) --- but I know many of my friends have been not only reading my posts but also coming to visit the Riverfront Amphitheater and downtown Alton, so I don't worry about the potential name-calling.

When you see it coming --- you stand up and say something. Consider this: I'm telling you...

Existing Conditions Are Good

My previous blog mentions the idea that the RiverBend, starting with Alton, Illinois, is being primed to become the next MUSICIANS ROW --- a destination for musicians, singers, composers, lyricists, entertainers, and others involved in the arts --- specially suited for an active music community. This is one of many thoughts that may well come to be sooner rather than later because Alton IL and The RiverBend area, in general, is one of the easiest areas to access in the entire United States.

First off, discussing the accessibility issues of Alton vs Branson. Traffic jams: Branson can't stop the vehicle traffic from coming and going --- because it really has no other options. Alton IL, however, has all of the various modes of transportation. The obvious is --- the waters of the Mississippi River and Illinois River flow right to the RiverBend. The Missouri River, while lesser known for the traveler, exits at Hartford, just a short trip back upstream takes a traveler to the Alton Marina --- a magnificent piece of work which seems to become more vibrant every week. Water is not the only means of transportation to and from The RiverBend. Let's immediately go to the vehicle traffic. With Interstates 55, 44, 70, 270, and 64 all within 40 minutes of Alton, there is a plethora (always use this word to impress sports guys) of ways to get to here from out of town. And even once you're in the metro area, you have a choice of how to get to Alton. Via U.S. 67 (from 270, go north on Hwy 367, which becomes U.S. 67 at the end of Lindbergh/67 in North St. Louis County) --- continue north to the strikingly beautiful Clark Bridge --- and you're in for a treat: the bridge itself is a work of art and structure, but look at the skyline of Alton, the riverfront area --- especially the marina and Riverfront Amphitheater, and the beauty of the bluffs. If you're coming from I-270 from I-70 in Illinois, come north on Route 3 in whichever way you choose. You can go through along the "Berm Highway" just before you get to Wood River, or you can continue in to East Alton and take Broadway through town into downtown Alton.

What isn't immediately obvious is TRAINS. But, yes, the Amtrak stops in Alton. And for those who have missed the recent changes in local MCT/Madison County Transit routes, there is a bus route which comes to the Amtrak station and goes through town to the downtown bus depot, giving out of town people easy access to the RiverBend/Alton riverfront. So --- that leaves bus service. Well, okay --- you can still get to Alton using Greyhound to St. Louis and make the trip via Amtrak to Alton, or during weekdays you can grab an MCT bus in downtown St. Louis and get to the Alton area. But, there's always a friend who will help you get to Alton.

Once here --- the musicians will find that they're not alone. Sure, at the moment Alton isn't the sprawling music headquarters it is likely to become in the next 20 years. But it has a music and arts scene, tied into local musicians and venues. With the Riverfront Amphitheater now becoming a good place to stop (and the Argosy still books some interesting shows a few hundred feet away from the amphitheater), there has been interest building in the downtown Alton clubs where musicians come to perform. Bossa Nova has live music as an example. Most people who already know about Fast Eddie's Bon-Air also have come to expect live music there at least three times a week. The Jacoby Arts Center is already a local place where musicians are performing and works of art are showcased. And there's the Alton Municipal Band, the Alton Symphony Orchestra --- for the music lovers --- and if a composer writes a good piece, these organizations could be counted upon to perform a good work in a live setting.

This is going to be a fantastic move for Alton and The RiverBend area, too, to promote the wide variety of music heard here. Why, just the other day I saw them pickin' the banjo and gueetars in Godfrey. Them folk even had thems a string-bass player in the parking lot across from Lewis & Clark Community College! You NEVER know where you'll run into music, who will be performing, or lack varied styles and musical genres.

But --- the announcement isn't quite ready for "prime time". There are still some pieces of the overall puzzle to be worked out between businesses and civic organizations before a plan is announced. That shouldn't keep the music community from becoming excited about the future of MUSICIANS ROW in The RiverBend.

Musicians/singers/performers/composers/lyricists/entertainers already live here. We're just preparing everyone for the eventual influx of the same kinds of personalities to show up here between 2010 and 2030. By the time it's all done --- it may well be a city with 24/7 music in live venues, as well as a thriving writers group. We should keep in mind there are new business models being developed to replace the failing part of the recording industry --- and we should all encourage those new kinds of publishers and recording companies to locate their headquarters in The RiverBend MUSICIANS ROW, too.

Oh --- not saying it can't happen, but I'm not expecting Steve Jobs to show up in the RiverBend within the next couple of years with an Apple/iPod/iPad application to show off at the announcement for MUSICIANS ROW. Maybe someone will become brave enough to call Apple and get them to consider such a thing. You never know until you try --- and at least we are seeing people try to bring music alive in The RiverBend.

And that's going to be a great buzz for generations to come.

RiverBend Thoughts: Spring 2010

It's been a very interesting time of personal growth and introspective/perspective thus far for me. Having grown up with family from Alton, Fosterburg, Godfrey, etc., and having made friends in the RiverBend all my life, in 2009 when I moved to the RiverBend to LIVE, I discovered and rediscovered things I am thoroughly enjoying.

In short --- I'm truly happy in the RiverBend.

We have the best of everything within walking or driving distance of my residence in Upper Alton. Sundays are particularly interesting, as we usually go to brunch after church. Aunt Sam's on College Avenue near Washington Avenue has been our "regular" Sunday brunch hangout. We get to see Charley Kevilus (formerly known as Joey) "the can man" almost every Sunday midday there, and a lot of local people have made it a semi-regular habit. That's just one thing my family happens to do. We do partake of local establishments at other times of the day and week, too. Because of yardwork, I've made it a habit the past two weeks to visit St. Peters Hardware. What a great family business --- all the things I need without going to the big box stores.
This spring weather has given us pause to see some of the area on those "nice" weather days, and we did what a lot of people from our region do regularly --- took a drive up THE GREAT RIVER ROAD. We just happened to start from Godfrey this time with a bit of gasoline in the tank and rolled up Route 3 over to Grafton (for a change...see, we usually go down Washington Avenue to Broadway and go through downtown Alton, but since we were in Godfrey when we decided to go to Grafton, we did the Rte. 3 roadway). Once there, we were thinking about going to long-time favorite spot Pere Marquette State Park. However, we altered our plans and went all the way up to Hardin, down into Brussels in Calhoun County, getting to see some lovely scenery in Madison, Jersey, Greene and Calhoun Counties along the way. One has to see the bluffs along the Great River Road to appreciate some of the beauty of God's creation --- the bluffs never cease to amaze me, no matter how many times I may have already traveled along them in my lifetime.

But, here's the thing: I'm finding that I am enjoying outdoors much more in The RiverBend (okay, since I live in Alton, I'll probably be talking mostly about Alton here for a moment) than I did in St. Louis. For purposes of background, I maintain that my life would have had a great void if I didn't have the experiences of both sides of the RiverBend Region. And just so all those friends in St. Louis/St. Charles/Franklin/Jefferson Counties in MO know, it's become increasingly obvious to me that St. Louis was an afterthought to The RiverBend area around Alton. St. Louis just happened to grow faster in the mid-1800s than did Alton and the rest of the Illinois side --- where the area's real growth potential began with Lewis & Clark. I'll say it again --- many of the best things in life are right here in this region --- we have the best of everything. But look particularly along the Mighty Mississippi River, the Illinois River, the Missouri River and the confluences of each at The RiverBend, and you'll see why it's so easy to make people from other parts of the country (even the world) envious of what we have right HERE! Spring has given me a chance to see the beauty of nature, the power of weather phenomena, and the varied ideas that people have to make attractive those things and objects along the rivers, bluffs, valleys, rolling hills, and farmlands.

Farmlands: Not something some of my city friends necessarily think about or even visit. But when they do, it's easy to give them a perspective about how "we" in the U.S. can take for granted the agriculturally-based economics. The St. Louis "city folk" as some might call them (again, for purposes of disclosure, I lived in St. Louis City for more than ten years --- that doesn't make me less appreciative of my family heritage) can be informed about the great farm fields literally minutes from their homes. In Madison County, Illinois, some of the richest farming soil in the world is along The RiverBend in the bottoms. Sure, there are other places in Illinois and Iowa and Kansas and Missouri and Nebraska which could all claim farmlands which are equal to, or perhaps better than, the soil. But all are doing the same thing: growing the foods used to feed our world and make industry productive, as soybeans and corn can do for our economy. Taking a look at it weekly for a period of months would probably help those in St. Louis better understand why we have what we have in our region. The farmers' work really does make a difference today as it did in all of those yesterdays/yesteryears. And whereas the only farming I have done to date is picking asparagus and veggies from my grandparents' farm, and helping mow the grass at the field's edge, I came to have the proper appreciation for our farmers as a child.

Riverfront activities: Here is where I think we are lucky --- and St. Louisans probably will see my point, many of them agreeing in what I say (some will not). Along the Great River Road in the RiverBend area, we have this ebb and flow not only of the waters in flood seasons, but the ebb and flow of activity in the spring, causing so many from around the world to come see the some of the attractions we have to offer. Because of the beauty of the bluffs and the trees along the peaks of the rivers, our ever-changing bird population, and the easy accessibility to all of this, we are prime for our spring influx of tourism. This will ramp up even more come summer when many families take vacations and drive across the heartland of the United States of America. What I believe is that if just a few of us in the RiverBend tell our friends or relatives (Facebook friends/relatives, perhaps) to check out our area, we'll be seeing something that boosts our overall presence and economic condition when they all come to visit.
I'd like to point out that if someone does make "the pitch" to friends and family about coming to visit this area, one thing they should do is see if there is activity at The Riverfront Amphitheater along the Alton end of the Clark Bridge. Even if there is nothing scheduled, tell them to stop at the park and walk along the edge of the Mississippi River, walk over to the Amphitheater and see this beautiful structure. From the park and the Riverfront Amphitheater, they can look up at the side of the bluffs where Alton sticks out as a beautiful city. This is one of the most attractive things about Alton --- it has beautiful old structures with such varied architecture overlooking the RiverBend and the riverfront. Meanwhile, you should note to whomever you're "pitching" to come here that there's never a lack of something to do around here, either, even on a Monday (I'm curious to find out why so many restaurants and shops are closed on Mondays here). With the numerous sites to see, and the communities so welcoming and friendly, it's easy to feel invited by the residents. And if they decide to show up on a weekend in the RiverBend, there are so many different churches around that they're sure to find one that is to their liking for their worship activities. I could go along this point for paragraphs, but it will wait for another entry or two down the road.

Upswing: Not that I can truly say there's an obvious positive in the overall economic condition of our world, but it appears to me that Alton and the RiverBend has - perhaps - weathered the seriously bad economic times as good or better than a lot of communities in North America. Maybe losing glass plants, refractories, steel plants, and oil production years ago has left this area with a better and more stable economy. Sure it would be ideal to have kept all of those businesses going in the area --- but it happened, and this area is poised to grow even stronger in the next 30 years. And I'd like to point out that when I say an upswing in Alton and beyond is likely, it doesn't take an economics major to show the outsiders both the bad and the good. But, because the bad has been universal and the good not-so-universal over the past three years, the good around the RiverBend can be shown through figures that prove our regional leaders are working to making a positive long-term impact with projects such as Riverfront Amphitheater, the block parties in downtown Alton, the new business coming through the enhancements at Conoco-Phillips refinery, and even the not-so-good stuff: when the levee system is strengthened over the next decade. These are all positives, in addition to the other enhancements which will be introduced to provide economic impact through enhanced tourism.

By the way, here's an announcement that is sure to make waves: Alton is poised to become the next "musicians row" in the world. Like long ago in New York City, Alton is about to have an influx of professional musicians, music composers, lyricists, singers, and entertainers. Details will be coming out over the next several months and years. This is a long-term project, but one which will make Alton a worldwide destination for the music community AND music fans. No, we're not likely going to be the next Nashville overnight. But the RiverBend has many of the right tools and infrastructure to become a worldwide center for musicians, composers, singers, even publishers --- and dramatically so, in the next decade.

Just so you know, the Riverfront Amphitheater is one of the big reasons the RiverBend area will come to be "Musicians Row": think Branson without the headache traffic jams, and with a wider variety of music being performed. And once a few more venues have opened up, it is very possibly going to be almost Las Vegas-like because of all the 24-hour-a-day venues which will be home to music and performance. Credit also the Jacoby Arts Center for bringing this area some publicity to the world outside of this region. Yes --- word really does spread about the little things being done to enhance a place like Alton.

If there's a date to let people know more about this long-term project, it will (likely) be released here almost simultaneously with other local outlets like altondailynews.com, Z1570 and in The Telegraph. I am excited about this spring around this region. And this summer --- whoa, baby! Look out for all those new faces coming to visit the RiverBend and seeing the enhancements and future of the region.

Can you hear the music yet?

Alton Symphony Orchestra - 2009-2010 Concert # 3

Guest Conductor Leon Burke III has been both serious and light-hearted throughout the practices and rehearsals for the Alton Symphony Orchestra's third concert of the 2009 - 2010 season. On Sunday, February 28th, well see if the snow has played a factor in the 65th concert season. You see, due to snowfall in the RiverBend area, the ASO missed one of its practices --- putting Burke and the orchestra in a catch-up mode for the last two weeks of rehearsals.

The concert will feature works of Dvorak - the New World Symphony, Heinrich Hubler's "Concertstueck" - which features a french horn quartet, and some Beethoven as well.

The Alton High School Auditorium, 4200 Humbert Road, again serves as the venue for this concert. The AHS Auditorium is filling in for the third consecutive concert while Lewis & Clark Community College's Hathaway Hall undergoes renovations.

Burke is a native St. Louisan who currently leads the University City Symphony Orchestra as conductor, as well as conductor of the Belleville Philharmonic Youth Symphony, with positions at St. Louis University, East Central College (Union MO), and the Topeka Ballet, St. Louis Symphony Chorus, and with Spotlight Theater among other groups. In short, Leon is a busy music-maker.

As with the December concert, tickets can be purchased at Halpin Music (2375 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton), Dick's Flowers (2621 College Avenue in Alton), Duke Bakery (819 Henry in Alton) the Alton Symphony Orchestra website (a PayPal purchase - your tickets will be at the WILL CALL WINDOW), or at the Alton High School Auditorium just before the performance. Tickets are $5 for children up to 12 years of age, $15 for seniors, $18 for adults, and students with an AHS or LCCC are free with a valid ID.

It's another great weekend of fantastic music with the Alton Symphony Orchestra --- we hope to see you there!

Hibernation: Smiles Abound Around Here

The economic condition of the United States of America has not dramatically improved, but there are signs that the icy stares and groans of those in our region are easing --- and in WINTER, no less!

It's a brief entry today, but only because of an observation from keeping an eye on the local media in the RiverBend. I've noticed that we don't seem to be hibernating much in Alton and the surrounding communities. "We" being the humans who reside and work in the area, not the animals which normally go into hiding --- and even some of the animals are already back raiding the trash cans after a brief three-week quiet time as the frigid cold of late December and early January came and left. Back to the simple observation: we didn't let the cold of winter slow us down very much. If the small crowds at the mall, the stores, the streets and highways and the church congregations are any indication, the people who live here were busy any moment they felt they could get out and go into the icy conditions and meet up with others.

When going out in the slick and slippery snow, the many persons I watched were mostly being cautious, but had a plan and were sticking to it: get to their destination and perform their tasks. Yes, it seems that businesses were opening - largely on-time - and not closing early, people were almost friendlier than in several years, and notes in the news were more positive about --- people.

This is not a business observation just yet. Just a happy thing to see. People were interacting in a light-hearted manner again in December 2009 and early January 2010.

Perhaps we just don't want to stay in bed all day long, or maybe we're not the kinds of people who can sit still and be bumps on a log for a prolonged period. Whatever the case, it has been nice to be able to just smile and receive a smile in return...in a public place.

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Mid-January brings about plenty of new things and a great continuation of those things which have been in our lives. I invite anyone in the RiverBend to find out what it is that makes them meet up with strangers --- and go ahead and try something new. It could be the local Alton-Godfrey Kiwanis Club, a book club which interests you, the though of the Madison County Geneological Society which would spur you into digging into your maternal or paternal roots, or the long-since-past-days when you performed music and felt compelled to join hundreds of others who - when they got the impetus to do so - wanted to get back out and play music again for the first time in 20 to 40 years. Now is a good time to explore. Take a drive up the Great River Road and do some eagle watching, or just go visit with someone you've not seen in a decade.

My bet is you have some smiles you'd like to share, and even more you'd like to see. Make some plans to go out and enjoy life soon.

Ringing In The Holidays: Alton Symphony Orchestra, Christmas Wonderland

Sometimes it's difficult to say what it is that puts us in a particular place. Occasionally, it's simple timing that has set someone in motion toward that place.

Recently, I found myself set into motion and landing in the trombone section of the Alton Symphony Orchestra. And now there's this ringing in my ears that sounds like Peter I. Tchaikovsky and Leroy Anderson and Mel Torme, with seasonal songs from Christmas and Hannukah. Perhaps that has something to do with the upcoming concert music we're performing --- well, yes, of course it does. We're performing the majority of Symphony #1 in G-minor opus 13 (Tchaikovsky) --- Winter Dreams --- and other selections at an upcoming concert at Alton High School, December 12th at 8:00 p.m. (note the time), in the auditorium, located at 4200 Humbert Road. Wm. Shane Williams will conduct this concert, the second in the 65th Season of the Alton Symphony Orchestra (nee Alton Civic Orchestra --- see the ASO website for detailed history). As I missed the first concert of the season due to commitments with another group, I am unable to say how the acoustics and environment of the auditorium at AHS feels to the on-stage musicians, but I hope that there will be a large number of patrons of the arts come to the performance and let us know how it sounds. We've been putting in many hours of practice to get these arrangements "down pat", and we're hoping the payoff will be a nice performance on this big stage.

For online information about the Alton Symphony Orchestra, see the website http://www.altonsymphony.org
If you'd like to make a phone call, ASO president Jerre Honke will answer your questions at (618) 462-2314.

Tickets for individual concerts are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $5 for children up to 12 years of age. AHS and LCCC students are free with I.D.
Tickets may be purchased at Duke Bakery at 819 Henry in Alton, Halpin Music at 2375 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton, and Dick's Flowers located at 2621 College in Alton, or in Wood River at 232 N. Wood River Avenue. Tickets are available at the door, and if you order on the ASO website through PayPal, your tickets will be at the WILL CALL window at the AHS Auditorium.

Ring in the holidays with music from the Alton Symphony Orchestra.
[But, please...if I miss an entrance on the Tchaikovsky Symph. #1 fourth movement...please, please, please be kind. It's been 13 years since I played in the ASO or any other symphony orchestra.]

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The wonder of lights at the holidays is back, big and beautiful in the RiverBend.

Christmas Wonderland returns to Alton's Rock Spring Park (2116 College Avenue) for the 18th year. Again this year, the "Grandpa Gang" has put in thousands of hours stringing up the light display for the tens of thousands of people who will drive (or perhaps make the walk-through on Monday, November 30, 2009) through the hillside attraction. Donations are $7 per car, with vehicles filled with ten or more occupants (vans, small buses) at $1 per person, through the one-and-a-half mile long park road.

The recent news report online at AltonDailyNews.com says over three-million lights are used in this year's Christmas Wonderland display, although the Christmas Wonderland website says 2.5-million lights --- eh, what's a half-million lights among friends, eh? Either way, those numbers are impressive --- a volunteer group putting up such a vast display with lights numbering in the millions! Kudos to the Grandpa Gang!

The hours for the display are 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on weekends, and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on weeknights. For 2009, the last date is December 27th. Directions and other information about this year's Christmas Wonderland display are here. This year, carriage rides are available primarily on the weekends on a first-come/first-served basis, or through reservations you can make online by emailing greattinghorsefarm@yahoo.com or by telephone at 618-458-6986. The cost is $20 for the first couple, with an additional $5 per person after that.

A petting zoo is part of the activities available, and the kids can feed the animals for $0.50, with feed available in the Santa Claus House. Photos at the Santa Claus House are $5 each.

For more information on the Christmas Wonderland or other attractions in the RiverBend area, you can contact the Alton Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-258-6645 (or 1-800-ALTON-IL).

If you're an environmental watcher, you'll be happy to note that this year's display is using many more LED lights to enhance the display with brighter lights as well as making it more "green" friendly.

Volunteer organizations will staff the park and display throughout the festive nights.

Light up the night with friends and family --- make it a destination --- Christmas Wonderland in Rock Spring Park.

Alton Riverfront: National Destination in the Making

Not that I think this has not been or isn't debated frequently in the homes and businesses in the Riverbend, even in the news publications, blogs and websites --- but it seems to me that the Alton Riverfront is poised for an exciting period of time within the next decade. The Riverfront Amphitheater recently joined a delightful Alton Marina and the pedestrian-friendly Riverfront Park area, BUT it seems like it is missing an element which could bring Alton back into the FOREFRONT of the American public scene.

Sure I'm talking BIG, thinking BIGGER, and may I now suggest that there is at least one more project which would make the Alton riverfront a NATIONAL DESTINATION for many more people than those who like that majestic (and obviously functional) bridge over the Mississippi River. The Clark Bridge is a marvelous focal point, to be sure, but can serve as a supportive background for another act. No, I do not mean all of the ghost-hunting tourists.

This probably isn't a completely new idea, but I've not seen it spelled out in the writings I have read --- so here goes my BIG IDEA:

Alton IL needs a RIVERFRONT FESTIVAL GROUNDS.

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Before you simply claim it to be a lame or unworkable idea, think about missed opportunities.

Other cities have been presented ideas such as this and either taken the bull by the horns and prospered (Milwaukee WI has a first-class festival grounds used every warm weekend along Lake Michigan for 30 years or more) or has dropped the ball when presented this option. Let's pick on our largest neighbors for a moment. A chance to carve a national niche with a large festival grounds nestled inside downtown St. Louis in the 1990s was passed over by city officials in favor of...(drumroll and cymbal crash)...a large warehouse/distribution building. St. Louis passed up a piece of the national and/or worldwide tourism pie which could have drawn an additional several million people each year to this region for the past decade --- visitors who spend their time and money at festivals elsewhere. But it is true that dozens of people are employed at the Gateway distribution warehouse as many distribution warehouses on Hall Street in St. Louis are vacant, maybe employing a few security guards. Urban planners are quick to point out that cities of all sizes must use prime downtown land for something significant. If you drive along M.L. King at 21st Street in St. Louis, you can see for yourself what could have been. It's not hard to imagine.
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Back to the Riverbend and not missing an opportunity in Alton.

It's 2009. The Alton Riverfront has come a long way since 1993. It is a fine work in progress, as anyone who hasn't seen it much since 2000 and suddenly took a day to walk along the stated area would tell you. Additionally, there is hope that the Riverbend's local movers and shakers will seize the moment and react better than the region's largest city. I urge everyone in power and with a voice to make sure we do not miss this great chance awaiting us. Sure, I can give you details. But we need more than details.

Not losing the opportunity being presented requires action.
What is the necessary action? It is a must to carve out the land area necessary for this to occur.

If you travel along Landmarks Blvd., then you probably can come away with an idea of what I envision. The trick is to make satisfied those who would feel they are being encroached upon by "progress".

This should not be labeled "too difficult" a task by the forward-thinking members of the city of Alton or the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau or the RiverBend Growth Association. Yes, it is visually obvious that Alton has a nice start already in place. Made more culturally significant with the Marina, Amphitheater and Riverfront Park, adding a festival grounds along the Mississippi River brings Alton one simple step from surpassing St. Charles as the best regional riverfront destination other than the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

To be sure, I am NOT suggesting Alton will draw many millions of people to such a small area. However, I am betting that several hundred thousand per year is not impossible. It doesn't seem such a bad idea to have thousands coming to Alton most weeks, does it?

It starts with growth at a logical focal point --- the Alton Riverfront. Imagine what could happen with a thriving festival grounds filled with thousands of tourists, an active Amphitheater, a busy Marina, and well-maintained park/green space for residents. Use your mind's eye to see what it would mean to those with businesses in downtown Alton near Piasa Street, along Broadway, as well as throughout the entire Riverbend. This is not a pipe dream, folks - it can be attained.


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