HAVERHILL — Later this summer, city leaders will cut the ribbon on what will be Haverhill's newest riverfront attraction.

Now under construction behind The Tap, the 300-foot boardwalk that is being paid for with a $1.2 million federal transportation grant will be roughly the same length as the boardwalk behind Haverhill Bank, which is scheduled to be rebuilt this summer.

Community groups and city leaders have long said that tapping the river as a business and tourist attraction is a key element of plans to revitalize downtown.

Featuring hardwood decking, Victorian-style metal benches and ornamental lights, the new boardwalk is expected to be an attraction that will capitalize on one of Haverhill's greatest assets: the Merrimack River.

One local restaurant owner said the new boardwalk will be a good thing for the city and downtown, but that with its construction comes a temporary loss of at least 30 parking spaces in the municipal parking lot.

Alan Boisvert, owner of Keon's 105 Bistro on Washington Street, said that in the last few weeks customers have called to cancel their weekend dinner reservations after being unable to find a place to park downtown.

"I think the new boardwalk is a step in the right direction — towards the vision the mayor and City Council see — but there will be some bumps in the road," Boisvert said. "We need to focus more on the issue of downtown parking."

Bob Hajjar, project manager and structural engineer with AECOM/Earth Tech, the company in charge of the project, said a minimal number of spaces will be lost. He said the parking lot will be repaved and redesigned to maximize its available parking spaces.

Boisvert said the city is on the right track with its plans to create a continuous, uninterrupted walking loop connecting both sides of the river, but until that happens the new boardwalk will offer a glimpse of the future.

City leaders have talked about having concerts, festivals and various arts events there and Boisvert said the crowds are likely to spill over into downtown, and into the arms of waiting businesses.

"We're doing everything we wanted to do, with new restaurants and bars, and more coming, but more parking is needed," Boisvert said.

Andrew Herlihy, chief of staff for Mayor James Fiorentini, said the new boardwalk project will include commercial docks that will be part of the Red Slavit Municipal Docks, and a new stairway leading to the docks.

Tap owner John Fahimian said the new boardwalk fits nicely with plans to make downtown a destination for shoppers, diners and for those attending the kind of cultural events the city hopes will sprout from the new boardwalk.

"Obviously it will bring people downtown to a pleasant ambiance," Fahimian said. "You have to start somewhere."

Talk about vendors being able to sell food items along the boardwalk intrigues Gerald Cannon, who operates a hot dog stand along with his father in Washington Square and is about to open another at 525 River St.

As a businessman, his big question is whether the boardwalk will see a high enough volume of people to make a profit.

"I might be interested in a lemonade stand, or selling ice cream or slush," he said. "But there may not be enough foot traffic to support anything."

Hajjar said the boardwalk behind the bank will have new hardwood decking and new code compliant railings.

"The existing timber framing is in excellent condition and will be reused, but it will require careful removal of existing timbers to preserve the framing below," Hajjar said. "It will have new galvanized and painted steel railings, lighting on the approach walkways will be repaired and the railings will be replaced as well."

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