The riverfront through Columbus is an underused resource and city officials want to see if there is a way to make that more appealing.

The city is considering a project to improve the stretch of East Fork White River between the Second and Third Street bridges and wants to get your thoughts at a workshop tonight.

Mayor Jim LIenhoop explains that downtown Columbus is not taking advantage of the river’s possibilities.

“I think we have got a significant unused resource in the terms of the river that we have,” Lienhoop says.

The mayor said that similar communities are putting their riverfronts to better uses, including cultural, recreational and commercial opportunities.

Lienhoop says that the city officials would like to extend Mill Race Park to incorporate the area behind the historic pumphouse and eventually extend the People Trails to link up with those heading east and north.

Last month, an Indianapolis woman drowned while trying to rescue a dog from the river. Lienhoop said that points out the danger of the failing low-head dam in the river between the two bridges.

Lienhoop said there will likely need to be some structure in the river to allow water to pool for recreational opportunities.

The workshop is from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Columbus City Hall.