Mayor Craig Ford said Gadsden City's riverfront and downtown attractions are drawing visitors and supporting local spending.

"The campground's packed every weekend, and it's bringing a lot of tourists, a lot of visitors to our area, who's spending a lot of money downtown and other areas," Ford said, praising campground staff and citing out-of-state visitors.

The mayor discussed river attractions: the city owns several duck boats that he said have paid for themselves within two years of operation, and kayaks are available on a self-rental basis. "By the end of this summer, within 2 years, we're paid for all our duck boats," Ford said.

Ford also described First Friday downtown and amphitheater concerts. To reduce vehicle-related safety risks he said the city will require parked cars to remain until 8 p.m. when events overlap with evening concerts: "So the concerts can start at 8PM...once you park it, you can't leave until 8PM. So that's a safety issue."

He noted a recent barbecue kickoff and a youth cooking component that will be improved, and invited residents to attend upcoming events. The mayor did not provide specific visitor counts, revenue figures, or contract terms for concession operators during his remarks.