Sweeping views of Cocheco may make Outlook a fav spot for tourists and residents

Rochester Riverwalk Committee Chairman David Walker points to where The Outlook could be built as soon as this year. (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - The outlook for the city's Riverwalk is looking up.
The Outlook, a circular 30-foot platform that will be located adjacent to Duval Park on River Street, could be built as early as this year, Riverwalk Committee Chair David Walker said on Monday.
Walker said the platform will be outfitted with several benches and will overlook the Wyandotte Falls and sluiceway to the south and the city's historic arch bridge that spans the Cocheco River to the north. He said they plan to illuminate the arch bridge with lighting to bring a glow to Rochester's burgeoning downtown prospects.
Much of the renewed energy surrounding the developing of one of Rochester's most vibrant natural attractions is due to Jay Lucas and the Sunshine Initiative, which seeks to assist urban centers in revitalizing their downtown.
Lucas, who is also participating in similar projects in Laconia and Manchester's west side, will be heavily involved in working with the grant writing to obtain funds for the Riverwalk initiative, a bold plan that seeks to one day bring a continuum of public access to the Cocheco River all the way from the Hanson Pines and the accessible Canoe/Kayak at Hillsdale Avenue to the Fairgournds.
Walker said The Outlook portion of the Riverwalk improvements could be completed as early as later this year, if grant writing goes well. He said the cost is expected to be around $175,000.
He said The Overlook is a significant milestone as it overlooks the former Wyandotte Mill, which was the last operating mill from Rochester's historic millwork underpinnings.
The Riverwalk Committee began its work in 2004 with Walker as its chair.
In recent years the committee was chaired by Stacy Marchionni, who helped to continue the effort. Now that Walker has returned to the chairmanship he said he is fully committed to seeing the improvements continue.
"This Riverwalk has always been my passion," he said, "and we are grateful for Jay Lucas' input, involvement and expertise."
The grand scheme of Rochester's Riverwalk is to have a boardwalk all the way from Hanson Pines to near the arch bridge that goes over North Main Street.
Other pedestrian bridges and improvements are planned south of Duval Park.
When they first priced out the ultimate cost of such a lofty enterprise in 2010 the total bill looked to be between $6 and $7 million.
Now it would likely be considerably more, Walker noted. "But The Outlook is a good step."