Riverfront Bar and Grill in Peru will buy parking lot for sand volleyball court

Riverfront Bar and Grill in Peru is turning a parking lot into an activities area that will include sand volleyball courts.

The Peru City Council agreed to vacate a portion of Grant Street and approved the sale of property and a redevelopment agreement with the local restaurant at 1525 Water St.

The area changing hands includes about half of the parking lot located on the west side of the Riverfront building.

Riverfront owners said they intend to use the property for activities, including lounging, bags, horseshoes and a few sand volleyball courts.

While the specifics still are being worked out with Riverfront, the local establishment also filed for a special use application acknowledged by the council and set for committee approval.

The special use application said the business, “Would like to purchase the property to develop it into an area for volleyball, lounging, bags, horseshoes and have alcohol accessible on the property.”

If allowed, the restaurant is interested in installing a stage for live music and an additional bar in the space.

After the city determined the property to be vacant and undevelopable, officials believed the public’s interest would be served by the transfer. Riverfront agreed to pay $5,000 for the property, according to the sale agreement.

Riverfront’s interest in creating a sand volleyball court adjacent to its building was first brought in front of the council a few months ago. After going through the proper channels and consulting with the city’s attorney, both parties believed the agreement was beneficial for each other moving forward.