MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Milwaukee leaders celebrated the opening of the Harbor District Riverwalk on Wednesday, marking a major milestone in the ongoing redevelopment of the city's inner harbor.

One year after construction began, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson joined community leaders for a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling the new riverwalk along the Kinnickinnic River.

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The waterfront space is designed to provide residents and visitors with a new destination for walking, gathering and enjoying the harbor.

"Years from now, no one is going to remember who cut the ribbon today. They will remember the walk that they took here, they will remember the sunrises they watched over here, they will remember the memories they made here at the waterfront, and that's the real success we celebrate today," said John Koetz, president of Komatsu Mining.

Officials say the newly opened riverwalk represents the first phase of a larger redevelopment effort that will eventually become Milwaukee's largest single riverwalk expansion.