June 20th, 2025 by WCBC Radio

The flooding in mind-May had minimal impact on most of Cumberland, but the Riverside Recreation Area in South Cumberland was hit hard. The area has been closed for weeks, forcing softball and soccer teams to find alternate venues for practice and play. Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Mackey says that progress has been slowed by continued rainfall…

  

“We’re trying to open it back up. The issue is this rain. Like, we have grass down there that’s just up to your knees because with it being so close to the river it’s just not draining out and there’s a clay sub-base down there.”

Mackey added that not only the grass fields were impacted…

   

“A lot of fencing that was torn down down there so we’re going to have to get it removed and replaced. We’re going to try and get a couple of the fields open that we can – like the soccer field. We’re looking at this weekend, it’s going to be nice for a couple of days and really just cut ‘em.”