Fredericksburg's Riverfront Park To Feature 'Smart' Technologies

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The city of Fredericksburg is partnering with the Center for Innovative Technology to make Riverfront Park along Sophia Street in downtown a "smart" location where the public will have access to Wi-Fi and cameras will provide security.

The park, currently under construction, is expected to open next summer. The downtown park will feature Rappahannock River views, open space, event space and a play area.

The city received a $75,000 grant from Herndon-based Center for Innovative Technology to modernize Riverfront Park. CIT is leading a statewide initiative to install “smart” technologies across the state.

Beyond public WiFi and security cameras, the technology in the park may eventually include a digital information kiosk, a public performance stage, environmental sensors for air quality and river flooding, and sensors for parking availability or crowd counts.

"The partnership with the City of Fredericksburg is an outstanding example of our statewide smart community approach of 'community-driven’ innovation," CIT CTO David Ihrie said Friday in a statement. "This project demonstrates that the benefits of 'smart' technology are approachable for communities of all sizes throughout Virginia and is a model that other communities can follow."

Riverfront Park will provide the traditional outdoor benefits of a publicly accessible space as well as technological advancements for its users, the city said.

In November 2019, the Fredericksburg City Council awarded a contract for construction of the long-awaited 3.6-acre park project to Athena Construction of Triangle.

Founded in 1985, CIT works on developing next-generation technologies in Virginia through investments and creating partnerships between new technology companies and customers.

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