Winner of the Outstanding Award in the 2025 WLA Awards – Built Small Public Space category
Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana, share a complex history with the Wabash River. Once a hub of economic activity via the Wabash & Erie Canal—the longest canal in the Western Hemisphere and, at the time, the second-longest in the world—the river declined in importance with the rise of railroads in the late 1800s. Over time, industrial developments, parking lots, and tow yards isolated it from the cities. In the 1990s, Lafayette relocated downtown rail lines along the riverfront, further severing its connection to the urban core.
Starting in the early 2000s, both cities reimagined their relationship with the river, recognizing its potential to enhance quality of life, recreation, tourism, and environmental stewardship. This vision aligned with significant downtown investment, redirecting focus on the Wabash River corridor.
The first step in reconnecting with the river was the Riverside Promenade, a 300-foot-long elevated boardwalk in downtown Lafayette, spanning a city block between Columbia and Main Streets. A 1,200-foot extension is planned to connect to a new pedestrian bridge, forming a loop that links neighborhoods, especially underserved areas, to the Wabash River and the regional 13-mile Wabash Heritage Trail. The Promenade’s first phase seamlessly connects the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge and the Leslie Memorial Bridge, overcoming a 10-foot elevation difference without compromising usable space. It also links the John T. Myers Bridge and Riehle Plaza, separated by a 12-foot grade change, with a gently sloped, ADA-compliant pathway that also accommodates bicyclists.
As a landmark feature, the Riverside Promenade blends urban and natural elements, providing spaces to walk, sit, and gather. It re-engages residents with the river, demonstrating its renewed role as a center for ecology, transportation, and commerce. The boardwalk hovers 25 feet above grade, offering panoramic river views over adjacent rail lines. Its zig-zagging horizontal form, inspired by the river’s meandering flow, navigates a tight urban space and includes seating areas, overlooks, and small event spaces. Seat backs shift from upright to relaxed, while railings and lighting angle outward by eleven-degrees, giving the impression of a wider space. Materials include regionally sourced steel for the structure, stainless steel railing panels, and sustainably harvested Cumaru wood seating, decking, and rail tops.
The landscape at both upper and lower levels balances the strong architectural elements. At the platform level, colorful, pollinator-rich plants in elevated planters help define subspaces. Native trees, shrubs, and grasses at the ground plane expand biodiversity, assist with stormwater management, and, when mature, will provide shade to seating areas at the platform level. In several areas at the platform level, metal grating serves as a walking surface, offering views and allowing sunlight to reach the natural landscape below.
The landscape architect led the design and a multidisciplinary team—including civil, structural, electrical, and geotechnical engineers—under a joint contract with the Wabash River Enhancement Corporation and the City of Lafayette. Opened in 2020, the Riverside Promenade marks the beginning of a new era of connectivity between the cities and their riverfront.
Riverside Promenade Phase 1
Location: Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Landscape Architect: MKSK, Inc.
Collaborators:
Client: Wabash River Enhancement Corporation and the City of Lafayette
Civil & Geotechnical Engineer: TBIRD Design Services Corp.
Electrical & Structural Engineer: KJG Engineering
Irrigation Designer: Landtech Design
Image Credits: MKSK and Jeff Norris Photography.