"Michael Mayor's here yaaay," a small group of children whispered as the opening of the Riverfront Walkway got under way on Saturday.
The balmy, spring day attracted a crowd of more than 300 people to cheer on Wanganui's latest community project.
Mayor Michael Laws said the new river boardwalk enhanced
Wanganui's greatest treasure "our liquid treasure, our river".
"This is just the beginning, Wanganui. It is my dream to have this boardwalk built all the way to the Dublin St bridge across the other side and right through Kowhai Park."
Mr Laws said the waterfront, once an industrial area, was now fast becoming a community area, a place for families and children.
"This is the city's recreation playground, because that's what we are a river city. We are reclaiming our river."
Representatives from Wanganui's 15 primary schools stepped forward to the blue satin ribbon, each holding a pair of scissors decorated with a blue bow.
The school children strung out in a line with Mr Laws in the centre and, on a count of three, sliced in unison. The mayor reminded everyone to be back at the same time next year for the opening of the next stage of the walk. "It will happen," he said.
The waterfront market was also bustling with stalls selling fragrant bunches of cream stock and bright daffodils to the endless rows of jewellery, hand-knitted cardies, home-made cakes and fresh veges and even tiny frilled jackets for dogs and dollies.
PICTURED: Down by the riverside ... The bustling riverside market combined with the opening of the new Riverfront Walkway drew quite a crowd to the Whanganui Riverside on Saturday.
