A public riverwalk running through your property adds something most sites don’t have. An ALTA land survey shows exactly where that easement sits. It shows how the easement lines up with your buildings and parking. It also shows where the public actually walks each day. Without that picture, buyers and lenders are left guessing about a space that isn’t fully private.

This matters most before a deal closes or a redesign begins. A riverwalk easement can shape what you build. It can shape where you build it. It can also shape how people move through your site.

Showing the Riverwalk Easement on the ALTA Survey

An ALTA survey plots the recorded riverwalk easement right on the drawing. It shows how the easement lines up with your property boundary. It also shows how it lines up with your buildings and parking areas. It shows other things on the site nearby too.

This gives buyers, lenders, and title workers one clear picture. They no longer have to work from a written description alone. Words in a deed can be hard to picture on the ground. A land surveyor turns those words into an exact spot on the survey.

For a site with public access built in, this step isn’t optional. It’s the base for every other decision about the property.

Comparing the Recorded Easement With the Existing Riverwalk on the Ground

What’s written in the records and what’s actually built don’t always match. A survey compares the legal easement area with the real path that people use today. This might be a boardwalk or a trail.

Sometimes the two line up exactly. Other times, the physical riverwalk has shifted over the years. A boardwalk might curve slightly outside the recorded strip. A trail might run a few feet inside or outside the legal line. These small gaps matter during a sale or a redesign. They affect what can be built near the easement.

The survey shows both versions side by side. That way, nothing gets missed because of an old assumption.

Reviewing Access Points Where the Public Riverwalk Enters or Crosses the Property

A riverwalk doesn’t stay in one lane. It often crosses land lines. It connects to ramps. It passes through gates as it moves along the water. A survey can mark each of these access spots.

This matters for how the site works day to day. A loading area near a public entrance can cause conflict. So can a main entrance that sits close to the path. Knowing where these connections sit helps planners avoid problems between public use and private work.

Access points near water can also shift due to erosion or repair work. A current survey shows where they stand right now, not where they used to be.

Identifying Site Improvements That Overlap or Sit Close to the Easement

Buildings, walls, fences, plants, and utilities can all sit close to a riverwalk easement. Sometimes they sit closer than expected. A survey marks these improvements next to the easement line.

This matters most when a buyer checks a site closely or plans new work. A wall that sits partly inside the easement could cause problems during a sale. A utility line near the public path might limit where new buildings can go. Seeing these overlaps early helps buyers and builders plan ahead. Finding them late costs far more time and money.

Being close to a riverwalk causes issues often. A survey turns a vague feeling of “it’s probably fine” into a measured fact.

Using ALTA Survey Information to Evaluate Future Site Changes Near the Riverwalk

Once the easement and nearby features are mapped, the survey becomes a working tool. Developers use it to plan new building work. Lenders check it when reviewing changes near the public path. Design teams use it to keep new work clear of the easement from the start.

Any change near a riverwalk easement usually needs extra review. That’s because public access is involved. Having accurate survey data ready makes that review faster. It also cuts down the chance of a costly redesign later. It gives every team working on the property the same starting point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an ALTA land survey show a public riverwalk easement? 

Yes. The easement gets shown when the title company gives the right record data for the survey.

What if the existing riverwalk does not follow the recorded easement exactly? 

The survey can show both areas. It marks the recorded easement and the real path on the ground. That way, the gap is easy to see and review.

Can the survey show where the public enters the property from the riverwalk? 

Yes. Ramps, gates, and paths that people can see get marked when they are part of the survey.

Why do improvements near a riverwalk easement matter during due diligence? 

Structures or features close to the easement can affect future use and access. They can also affect new building plans and title review, so their spot needs a close look.

Does an ALTA survey determine who is responsible for maintaining the riverwalk? 

No. The survey documents the recorded and physical conditions. Maintenance duties usually come from separate agreements, recorded documents, or local rules.

For a free land surveying quote, call us at (334) 408-4311 or send us a message by going here.

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