Riverside Downtown Partnership (RDP) is a not-for-profit organization that partners with the City of Riverside, Redevelopment Agency, other not-for-profit organizations, Downtown retailers, Downtown businesses and fellow Downtowners whose joint mission it is to promote and enhance the quality of life in Downtown Riverside.

The Partnership has three major functions; to advocate for Downtown, to manage the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), and to manage the Main Street Pedestrian Mall on behalf of the City of Riverside.

RDP was first formed in 1981 by Downtown business owners who recognized that Downtown needed to be a project area of its own with focused attention on economic development, regular maintenance, merchant unification, event coordination, retail recruitment and retention, historic preservation and arts/cultural enhancement.

The Partnership is led by a 20 to 30 member Board of Directors representing a cross-section of Downtown stakeholders. Voting members of the Partnership elect four Officers and four At-large Directors each year. A Nominating Committee recommends a slate of Directors for appointment to the Board each year. These Directors represent the City, the County, property owners, educational institutions, health care, hospitality industry and the retail sector.

The Board has six committees that meet on a regular basis. Policy Committees of the Board include: Executive Committee, Land Use, and Arts and Culture. Service Committees of the Board include: Downtown Maintenance and Beautification, Marketing and Retail Council, and Summer Concert Series. Ad-hoc committees are created as required and for time frames dependent on the particular project or issue.

Board members are encouraged to participate on committees and work on issues and projects important to Downtown. Board and Committee activity forms the core of the Partnership's work as an Advocate for Downtown. Members of the Downtown Committee also participate on the Partnership's Committees to provide a broader perspective of Downtown issues. Assisting the Board and Committees in their work is a staff of 3.75 FTE.