From an economic standpoint, creating new and improved public spaces and development opportunities on the downtown waterfront including a continuous riverfront promenade from Tryon Palace all the way around to Council Bluff Green is a primary component of the original Central Business District Revitalization Plan, developed in 1977 when downtown was at a critical junction in its evolution.
Like many special projects over the past 32 years, Swiss Bear raised money privately to initiate projects by assisting with its funding. Historically our revitalization program has been based on building partnerships with the private sector to assist with public facility improvements. This high level of participation and commitment by the private sector is a key component in the success of the revitalization of the downtown historic district and its waterfront redevelopment. The addition of private sector funds also allows improvement projects and amenities to be a high quality product. Major contributions from community leaders and professionals have been the impetus for undertaking numerous projects. Council Bluff Green is one of those projects.
Improvements to this park was very important as it would complete the northern section of the City's Riverwalk/waterfront promenade and Swiss Bear believed the investment of public and private funds to improve this public space would serve as a catalyst to promote public access in front of several privately owned commercial developments along the Neuse waterfront.
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| Council Bluff Green - today |
Council Bluff Green is a beautiful two-block riverfront long park on the north side of Broad Street originally developed in the early 1930’s. Over the years, it like the downtown deteriorated and fell into a state of disrepair. This historic site is “ where Native Americans of the Chattawka nation held tribal councils, where early settlers built their homes and where a Post Road was constructed to link New Bern with communities to the west. Baron Christopher deGraffenried purchased from the Native Americans, this fork of land between the Neuse and Trent Rivers for his New Bern settlement”. It was probably at Council Bluff that the land transaction was sealed with an elaborate ceremony described by the baron in his memoirs.
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| Council Bluff Green - Before |
Following on the heels of our successful Put Your Mark on the Park campaign in the mid-1990’s that raised $350,000 to assist the City with improvements to Union Point Park, Swiss Bear, with the City’s approval, embarked on the Help Pave the Way fundraising campaign to improve Council Bluff Green. The campaign used the same strategy, selling engraved bricks, paver’s, granite panels and benches and raised $168,000. Campaign funds were then transferred to the City for re-development of the park, which included storm sewer improvements a new promenade, streetlights, furniture and trees.
Susan Moffat-Thomas
Executive Director
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