Located in downtown Dayton, there is something happening year round at RiverScape MetroPark! Amid the beautiful landscape gardens, flowering pots, hanging baskets and reflecting pools, the park hosts a full range of activities including free summer weekend concerts, parent and preschooler programs, major community festivals including the Dayton Celtic Festival, the Cityfolk Festival, Taste of Miami Valley, the Hispanic Heritage Festival and the Dayton African American Cultural Festival.

Ride the River Rentals
Whether you want to be on the river or riding alongside it, pedal boats, HydroBikes, coaster bikes and roller blades are available for rental at Ride the River Rentals every Saturday and Sunday Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. 

Regional Bikeways
RiverScape is the hub of a system of over 60 miles of Recreational Trails in Montgomery County. Run…walk…bike or skate. There is something for everyone. Let RiverScape be your starting point or a stop in your travels. We offer bike and roller blade rentals, restrooms, water fountains, food pavilion and beautiful scenery.

Bike Hub
The new bike hub facility housing secure bike lockers, showers and restrooms will support cycling as a form of commuter transportation and will compliment Five Rivers MetroParks' efforts to promote cycling through programming, planned and unplanned activity and bike advocacy.

Five Rivers Fountain of Lights
The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights is created by five water jets housed in concrete towers and a powerful center geyser. The towers straddle the confluence of the Great Miami and Mad Rivers just east of the Riverside Bridge and shoot 2,500 gallons of water per minute toward the center of the river. The central geyser rises from the jets to a majestic 200’ in the air. Covering 395,000 square feet across an 800’ diameter, the Five Rivers Fountain of Lights is one of the largest fountains in the world.

Invention Stations
The river walk begins at the northeast corner of Main Street and Monument Avenue with an 8”x 8” brick medallion in the pavement. This medallion claims Dayton to be the Innovation Capital of the World, by virtue of the fact that Dayton, throughout much of its history, has had more inventions per capita than any city in the United States. This acclaim was first achieved, not in the wondrous years of the Wright Brothers and during Charles F. Kettering, but earlier, in the 1800s. So it wasn’t these famous sons who spawned a climate of innovation in Dayton as many assume, but perhaps it was the climate of innovation already existing in Dayton that spawned our famous sons and some of the world’s most revered inventors.

Dayton Inventor's River Walk
The Dayton Inventor's River Walk includes seven invention stations along Monument Avenue and Patterson Boulevard that celebrate Dayton inventions, sometimes in surprising ways. And Dayton has scores more stories of innovation to tell. The brick medallions continue down Monument Avenue and Patterson Boulevard leading the way along the walk and telling the stories of other Dayton inventors. These stories include Joe Desch, who cracked the German “Enigma” code and put the Allies on course for victory in World War II, as well as the origins of cellophane, digital watches, recycled newsprint, Freon and “Star Wars” technology.

Food Concessions
Hungry visitors will find sandwiches, snacks, cold treats, salads, wraps, coneys and more at the RiverScape Concession operated by Skyline Chili. Grab a snack or lunch from 11 AM to 9 PM May 15 through Sept. 31. The concession at the new pavilion will sell food items during events like annual cultural festivals and evening concert series. Warm up with a treat or hot chocolate from the concession when it’s open during the expanded ice skating season. You can also get your favorite Skyline items and healthy snacks from the concession located at the Bike Hub.

Festival Plaza
It’s the center of activity for RiverScape MetroPark. Tables and chairs are scattered throughout. Pull up a chair, enjoy the breeze off the river and be surrounded by our stunning gardens.

Gardens and Landscape Beds
RiverScape is a beautiful garden that includes hanging baskets, life size flower pots and beds overflowing with annuals, perennials and tropical plants. Many of the plants are labeled with botanical and common names so that you can be inspired for your own home garden. Our garden creates a tropical oasis along the river in downtown Dayton. We invite you to pull up a chair on Festival Plaza and enjoy the beauty.

Paul Laurence Dunbar Walk
RiverScape pays tribute to the works of native Daytonian poet Paul Laurence Dunbar – several of his poems are etched in stone at the top of the staircase at the west end of the park.

Swings atop the river levee
Our swings are a popular place to catch a view of the river especially on a beautiful summer evening.

River Levee
Site of the Great 1913 Flood. Convergence of the Mad and Great Miami River. Roll down the levy and walk along the top. Visit the historical markers on the fountain towers and plaques describing the effects of the Flood. Observe wildlife. Favorite spot to fish.

Weddings and Proposals
Although no part of the park is reservable, there have been many proposals at the park as well as many weddings. Please call our Administrative offices for more information on how we can help you with your special day at (937) 274-0126.