Marmaton riverfront celebration July 3 in Fort Scott

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Bourbon County residents and visitors will gather on the banks of the Marmaton River from 5:30-7:30 p.m., July 3, to celebrate the development of the Marmaton riverfront.

The First Annual Riverfront Festival will be an old-fashioned wiener roast. It is open to the public and there will wieners cooked on an open campfiremm along with watermelon and desserts including s'mores.

In 2007, a committee of citizens traveled to Topeka to witness the signing into law of the Fort Scott/Bourbon County Riverfront Au-thority.

The mission of the authority is to facilitate a sustainable revitalization and promote preservation, protection and interpretation of the Marmaton River for the enjoyment and education of current and future generations of visitors and citizens of Fort Scott, Bourbon County and the State of Kansas.

While the development process is expected to take a minimum of five years, much has happened already.

Loads of trash and old tires have been removed along with many bundles of brush. Some of the property along the river has been donated to the Riverfront Authority and some of it has been purchased. When completed, the Riverfront Park will include approximately 60 acres along the river starting at National Avenue, with trails going eastward toward the Old Military Bridge and westward to Gunn Park.

The new park will include a fishing lake with handicap access, hiking, biking and equestrian trails, picnic areas with restroom facilities and playground equipment, botanical identification of plants, historical panels portraying the use of the area by Native Americans and early settlers -- including the period before and after the Civil War -- and overnight parking for recreational vehicles and parking lots for visitors.

But before all this can happen, money must be raised for a Master Plan. The Riverfront Authority has applied for a grant to cover this $100,000 expense, but $20,000 of the cost must be raised locally. A goodwill donation is requested at the entrance to the festival to help fund the Master Plan. Donations and contributions are tax deductible as provided by law.

Local businesses and individuals have donated all items for the event in support of the project.

A popular local band, "Fuss and Feathers", and the Rotary Club singing "Ink Spots" will provide entertainment. Fort Scott Pack 114 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts will assist in building the campfires. The Fort Scott Fire and Police Department personnel will be present to supervise the fires and provide traffic control. An information booth will be showing a power point presentation of the plans to beautify the river and create park areas and hiking, biking and equestrian trails.

An area for parking cars will be at the site and across North National Avenue at Progressive Rail.

An adult must accompany young children. There will be limited seating so participants are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to sit on.

Following the festival, the Fort Scott National Historic Site will offer free tours of the Fort beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday.