This new park was 50 years in the making and now serves as the front yard for the city of Corvallis and its people. This linear park is bordered on one side by a natural river edge and on the other by a commercial/housing redevelopment area. A "multi-modal" path links numerous special spaces (known as "parklettes") located where perpendicular streets terminate at the park. The park is the home of seasonal community events and the Saturday Farmers Market.

The park can be accessed by foot, bike, and car. Running through the park is a paved multi-modal path that links to other multi-modal paths in the larger community. Visitors, including residents, shoppers and downtown workers, use the park all year. There is limited access via transit at the moment. It is also near a slow-moving two-way street. Side walks also lead to the space.

The park space makes an excellent first impression, and it's shared equally by all genders and ages. A larger percentage of children come to the park in good weather. There are many formal and informal seating options and the park is well maintained and regularly cleaned, including the public restrooms on the site. The park feels safe because of the presence of a great number of visitors, who provide "eyes-on-the-park". The space is regularly patrolled. Cars share the area, but the passage of traffic is not the dominant function.

Parks is used throughout the year, and is home of the Saturday Farmers Market in the spring, summer, and fall. It also hosts special celebrations in the summer. It has also become known as a great site for group wedding photos, . The outdoor public forum site. used by all ages, and equally enjoyed by individuals and groups.

Corvallis Riverfront Park is a popular place for locals to take out-of-town guests. It's a great park for a stroll, with varied venues to stop and people-watch or simply relax. Each stopping place is designed differently. People seems to become more sociable while in the park and surroundings. There almost always seems to be a slightly festive atmosphere, encouraged perhaps by an abundance of public art. Strangers seem open to conversation with others.

This park was created in fits and starts by the citizens over a 50-year time frame. The Riverfront Commission was created to provide public oversight of the planning, design and funding procedures for the park. In the late 1940's and early 1950's, 1st Street was envisioned as an auto bypass, but citizens rejected that plan. However, there was no strong community support or money to do any alternative lasting improvements. Over time, the area became a series of gravel parking lots, covered with weeds, as old industrial uses disappeared. A DEQ ruling forced the city to deal with preventing sanitary sewer flows into the river, a ruling that opened the door to receive the funding needed to create a legacy park and community celebration space.