Frequently Asked Questions

River Common Questions

Q. How Many Parks Does the Riverfront Parks Committee  Manage?
Q. What are the Riverfront Parks Committee Responsibilities?
Q. How are the Riverfront Parks Committee Events Funded?

River Common Park Questions

Q. How Old is the Riverfront  Parks?
Q. How Large is the River Common Park?
Q. Who is Responsible for Maintenance of the Riverfront?
Q. Are the Parks Patrolled?
Q. Who Should I Contact for Emergencies?
Q. Where Can You Park Your Car or Truck?

Event Questions

Q. How Do I Know What Events are Coming Up?
Q. How Do I Become a Vendor at a Riverfront Parks Event?
Q. How Do I Host My Own Private Event or Wedding?

Q. How Many Parks Does Riverfront Parks Committee Manage?
A. The Riverfront Parks Committee manages and programs the River Common, Nesbitt Park, and the Kirby Park Natural Area (Wilkes-Barre, PA).

Q. What are the Riverfront Parks Committee Responsibilities?
A. The Riverfront Parks Committee is responsible for the programming, promotion and public stewardship of the River Common Park.

Q. How are Riverfront Parks Events Funded?
A. Riverfront Parks events are funded entirely by private citizens and corporate contributions. No public monies or government allocations are used to present events at the River Common, Nesbitt Park or the Kirby Park Natural Area

Q. How Old is the River Common?
A. The River Common  was established in 1803. This makes it the 16^th oldest park on record in the United States of America.

Q. How Large is the River Common?
A. The River Common Park is 17.3 acres with a half mile of shoreline on the Susquehanna River.

Q. Who is Responsible for Maintenance of the Riverfront?
A. Luzerne County maintains the River Common Park. The City of Wilkes-Barre maintains Nesbitt Park and the Kirby Park Natural Area.   The Committee assists with volunteer clean-ups and weeding of flower beds each year.

Q. Are the Parks Patrolled?
A. Wilkes-Barre City Police Officers are the eyes and ears of the parks as well as sources of valuable information. While officers patrol the parks, the Riverfront Parks Committee encourages visitors to take common sense security measures, as you would in any other location that you visit.

Q. Who Should I Contact for Emergencies?
A. In case of an emergency, please call 911 immediately. After calling 911, please notify the Riverfront Parks Committee, if available. The Riverfront Parks Committee keeps detailed records of all crimes and emergencies at the River Common. These records are kept to improve visitor experiences and identify problems within our parks.

Q. Where Can You Park Your Car or Truck?
A. Street parking is available throughout downtown Wilkes-Barre; a few blocks from the River Common.

Public Parking Lots are also located on:
1. 53 S. Main Street: 410 Spaces
2. 30 N. Main Street: 680 Spaces
3. 15 N. Washington Street: 280 Spaces
4. 18 E. Northampton Street: 165 Spaces
Rates: $1 per hr, $5 daily minimum

Private Parking Decks and Lots include:
1. Boscov’s Department Store Garage: 279 Spaces
2. Citizen’s Bank Parking Garage: 400 Spaces
3. King’s College Off-Street Parking: 1,000
4. Wilkes-University Off-Street Parking: 1,200 Spaces

Q. How Do I Know What Events are Coming Up?
A. Listings of Riverfront Parks Committee free events, including concerts, festivals, performances and sporting activities, are located in the Free Events section of this website. In addition, RCO uses radio, television and local newspapers to advertise events. You can also be notified by email of coming events by signing up for our e-newsletter on our homepage.

Q. How Do I Become a Vendor at a Riverfront Parks Committee Event?
A. To become a RiverCommon.org vendor, please contact us at (570) 825-5763 or email us at john@riverfrontparks.org  . Selected vendors will be required to obtain and maintain a City of Wilkes-Barre Food Permit each fiscal year. This permit can be obtained through the city’s website or by contacting the city’s special events director.

Q. How Do I Host My Own Private Event or Wedding?
A. To host your own event, please visit our Host Your Own Event Page and complete our private events application.

New Date for Riverfest 2023 Announced

Riverfest 2023 is now August 12th and 13th! Join us for a day of food, entertainment, and activities in Nesbitt Park at Riverfest! Live Music, Children’s Scavenger Hunt,...

Volunteers Needed for Riverfest 2023 – August 12 and 13!

Volunteers Needed! Volunteer with us on August 12th and/or 13th at Riverfest! Help is needed with set up, parking, and more. All volunteers will receive a free T-shirt....

RIVERFEST POSTPONED!

Due to forecasted storms this weekend (all three days), including lightning, heavy rain, and wind, in the interest of public safety, the Riverfront Parks Committee is cancelling RiverFest....