Organizers: KidsFest attracted 6,000 to Jefferson City's newest venue

Organizers: Parking was biggest challenge, new project should address it

Fay Kipp, 7, enjoys a horse ride at KidsFest Saturday, June 5, 2021, at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park in Jefferson City.
Fay Kipp, 7, enjoys a horse ride at KidsFest Saturday, June 5, 2021, at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park in Jefferson City.

Saturday's return of Kidsfest after a two-year absence pleased those attending as well as those who organized it.

The Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department estimates around 6,000 people came to Ellis-Porter Riverside Park between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., said Phil Stiles, program manager of special events.

"It's probably right on target (with past events)," he said. "When it was held in the downtown area, we estimated anywhere between 5,000 and 8,000 people attended. Talking with Bass Pro Shops representatives after the (Saturday) event, they all agree that easily 6,000 people came through."

Along with being the first Kidsfest held at the Capital Region MU Health Care Amphitheater, it was also the first less-structured event since the venue opening last month. There have been two concerts there since the amphitheater's opening.

"I love how it can move," Parks Director Todd Spalding said. "You have some green spaces, but you also have the terraces and the big paths in the amphitheater where you're able to put stuff. So, people could really move around, follow the trail, go through the amphitheater. It looks really neat to me."

This year, Spalding said, is a big learning opportunity for the department to rediscover how the park functions now.

Both he and Stiles said the biggest area to reconsider going forward with events is parking at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park.

Within the first hour Saturday, parking was filled, and people didn't know where to park, Stiles said Monday.

"As I move forward, not only with concerts but with those kinds of events, is how traffic flows," Spalding said. "Car traffic and how do we get people potentially there by bike. We're looking at other kinds of trail coming into the park as well and off-site parking. For me, that's the biggest opportunity."

Part of the goal to address parking, Spalding said, is a $650,000 joint project between Jefferson City, Cole County and the parks department. It is awaiting approval by the City Council.

The project would add sidewalks to and rework Grant Street, which is the main point of entry for events at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park.

The goal is to make foot traffic into the park easier and beautify that path.

Spalding said he hopes the sidewalk will encourage people to walk to the park rather than drive or park off site and walk the rest of the way.

"I think the park itself has great space and great layout, and trails that get to it and beautiful views," he said. "I think the biggest opportunity for us is how do we get people in there that's not too troublesome?"

Overall, both officials agree the event itself went over well.

"The new venue worked great," Stiles said. "We got a lot of positive feedback from attendees and look forward to making it bigger and better for next year."