In an effort to revive one of Niles’ longest running summer festivals, the city’s parks and recreation board has assumed control of Niles Riverfest, which has seen a decline in popularity and quality over the past few years.

Parks board chairperson Cindy Cataldo said Riverfest would get a new name and a renewed focus on community involvement and family fun.

“Our thought is let’s try and save this festival because it is an awesome festival for Niles,” said Cataldo, who also owns Massimo’s Pizzeria. “We are basically trying to keep it alive.

“As a business owner, I saw that not a lot of Niles people went to Riverfest last year. I am hoping to bring Niles back to Niles.”

The park board plans on having a new name approved by the end of the month.

Cataldo said the parks board wants to do away with the carnival rides and “flea market” style vendors present at past festivals. She said they hope to bring in restaurants from in and around Niles to offer food and participate in a barbeque cook-off.

“We hope to have a lot of community involvement,” Cataldo said.

Because the park board does not have a lot of funding available, Cataldo said they would be relying on outside groups and organizations to sponsor and run events that will be held throughout the weekend of the festival, July 31 to Aug. 2.

These events could be run like fundraisers, she said.

Ideas include a 5K run/walk and several types of tournaments/games, including sand volleyball, kickball, corn hole and pickle ball.

Lacey Peters, park board member and Niles-Buchanan YMCA employee, said the YMCA might offer fitness activities in the park during the event.

“We want it to be a positive change for the community and I think we have the ability to really enhance the festival,” Peters said. “I am excited about it and I think everyone will enjoy themselves.”

Cataldo said the Anything That Floats raft race would not return because of the Main Street Bridge replacement project. Organizers plan to bring back the dragon boat races, although they are discussing changing the format.

“Hopefully we can bring it (the raft race) back next year depending how everything comes out,” Cataldo said.

Tyanna Weller, president of the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has rescheduled its beer and wine tasting festival to Aug. 1 in order for it to be held in conjunction with the new Riverfest. The chamber sold more than 700 tickets to last year’s beer and wine tasting.

“We have such a wonderful park and a wonderful community and we need to find more ways to showcase it,” Weller said. “I think working together as a group will really help to enhance this event.”

The Riverfest has been held in Niles for more than 20 years as a way to celebrate the St. Joseph River. A Riverfest Committee was responsible for organizing the event in past years.

A member of that committee, Tom Majerek, said the committee was not “invited back” to run the event this year.