A big change
If you get the chance to take a look at the Main Street revitalization plans, keep these things in mind.
First, be careful with that paper — those plans are expensive!
Second, get excited. Because once all this is completed, downtown is going to look amazing.
How'd this all come about? Each year, the city decides what projects list on its capital improvements plan. This plan stretches out to 2007.
The "revitalization" of Main Street is a part of that plan. It's divided into three sections, with the first segment of First to A set to be completed this year.
In 2004, crews will work on a section from Third to First, and in 2005 they'll finish with the section running from A to D streets.
So maybe you're looking at the cracks in the street and thinking, "Good. It's about time they filled those."
But this project is much more than that.
It's leveling the streets so the middle doesn't look like a miniature mountain.
It's replacing all the lights with neat-looking vintage ones.
It's redoing all the curbs — no more cracks, no more "some paint here, no paint there." Just a uniform curb that's six inches high.
It's putting decorative brickwork alongside the sidewalk.
And, maybe biggest of all, the project means contemplating how to replace the existing stoplight at Main and Grand.
Officials aren't sure what to do yet. Do they install new lights, despite the expensive cost? Do they revert the intersection to a four-way stop? And would that be safe for drivers or would it create accidents?
Maybe you've got some ideas or solutions of your own. Your City Council representative probably wouldn't mind hearing them.
No doubt about it: This is going to be a lot of work. Businesses will get frustrated because customers can't park in front of the building while their half of the street is being worked on. Reducing Main to one lane of traffic will slow down drivers.
But when it's all done, and the downtown looks amazing for the fair and Arts and Crafts, won't it all be worth it?
Absolutely.
— JENNIFER WILSON
