CITY OI
RIVERSIDE
City of Arts & Innovation City Council Memorandum
•••••••••••••••••••••*••# ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: NOVEMBER 18, 2025 FROM: COUNCILMEMBER FALCONE WARD: 1
SUBJECT: Riverside History Walk
ISSUE:
Consideration of adoption of guidelines for reviewing requests to add commemorative stones to the Riverside History Walk (History Walk).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council approve below guidelines in anticipation of requests for the addition of new commemorative stones recognizing important moments in Riverside's history to the History Walk. Guidelines for approval shall include:
• The request must represent a historical event in Riverside history post-1976 • The request shall be approved/denied by the City's Historic Preservation Officer upon advisement from the Soroptimist International of Riverside and local history organizations including but not limited to the Cultural Heritage Board, Old Riverside Foundation, and Riverside Historical Society
• Events shall exemplify or reflect special elements of the City's History including:
A. Cultural - The event represents significant artistic, educational, religious, or community traditions that express Riverside's cultural identity or diversity.
B. Social - The event illustrates important aspects of community life, social change, or collective experience that have shaped the character or values of Riverside's residents.
C. Economic - The event is associated with major developments in commerce, industry, agriculture, or innovation that contributed to Riverside's economic growth or transformation.
D. Political - The event is linked to civic leadership, governance, or public movements that influenced local policy, social justice, or the City's political evolution. • The requesting organization shall fund the fabrication of the stone and artistic work needed to establish a stone design that compliments existing stones • The stone's artwork design shall be approved by the City's Arts & Cultural Affairs Deputy Director and Historic Preservation Officer
• The City of Riverside shall fund the installation of the approved addition in the sidewalk along Main Street via City Council approved funding sources (such as a forthcoming road construction contract)
• The requesting organization shall provide a $500 donation to the History Walk endowment fund for future care and maintenance
• Addition of stones shall be installed in the sidewalk along Main Street to follow the existing pattern of the History Walk leading south towards 14'h Street. Once full to 14t Street, the History Walk shall cross Main Street and be installed in the sidewalk along Main Street northerly to City Hall
• The requesting organization shall develop supporting historical text for each newly added stone to be added to the website after review by the Historic Preservation Officer BACKGROUND:
The Riverside History Walk was created in 1976 by Soroptimist International of Riverside and gifted to the City of Riverside as part of the nation's Bicentennial celebrations, with 31 stones and medallions commemorating major events in Riverside's civic and cultural history from approximately 1860-1976. The History Walk was first installed in the Forest of Lights plaza at Main and 5" Streets in front of Raincross Square Convention Center on December 7, 1976. In July 2012, prior to the Convention Center renovation, the stones were removed from the plaza and placed in Museum of Riverside storage for later installation. A suitable new location was debated for the subsequent thirteen years. The History Walk was reinstalled in the sidewalk on the eastern side of Main Street between 10t and 12th Streets in July 2025. At this reinstallation time two additional stones were added commemorating Riverside National Cemetery and the establishment of California Baptist University, from California Baptist College. In 2025 the History Walk totaled 33 stones.
Community members and organizations have since expressed interest in adding new stones to highlight significant events not represented in the original project, but to date no formal City policy governs how such additions are reviewed or approved.
DISCUSSION:
Adding new stones to the Riverside History Walk provides an opportunity to highlight significant moments in local history while ensuring that the History Walk remains an inclusive, community-focused landmark. In order to have a uniform approach for such requests, adopting the above guidelines will ensure consistency in responding to community requests.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact with adoption of the aforementioned guidelines. If History Walk additions are approved, the fiscal impact to the City of Riverside would be the cost of labor and supplies for installing the approved stones.
Prepared by:
Philjs Falcone
PHILIP FALCONE
Councilmember, Ward 1