-
- City
outlines centennial project
- SUNNYSIDE (Monday 1-18-99)---Sunnyside will
be 100 years old in 2002, and the city is expected
to be a lot better looking then than it was in
1902.
-
- City staff and others this evening outlined
one of the first projects, which will
include:
- A new parking area just south of the museum
on Grant St.
- A new landscaped parkway from the museum,
Snipes cabin, and Central Park north along 5th
street (behind Safeway) to Edison Ave.
- A continued walk eastward along Edison
leading to a new...
- Centennial Square at 6th Street and Edison.
- Centennial Square would contain public
restrooms, trees, a permanent stage for a variety
of entertainment events, and become an attraction
for both residents and tourists.
Finishing the project depends on two state
grants--one to the Dept. of Transportation, another
on a community development block grant.
-
- Grant Developer Elaine Willman said a
$150,000 grant proposal for needed property
acquisition will be submitted to D.O.T. by Feb. 12.
-
- A block grant for $350-400,000 would provide
for construction of facilities. For this, a pubic
hearing is slated for Feb. 1, followed by a grant
proposal.
-
- Officials noted the D.O.T. grant would
require 13 percent in in-kind contributions from
the city, and the CDGB grant about 20
percent.
-
- City Mgr. Don Hahnfeldt noted the in-kind,
however, is not cash from city coffers. It can be
locally-arranged in the form of labor from groups
like Americorps and Fort Simcoe Job Corps' heavy
equipment school.
-
- Future maintenance would be the city's
responsibility, but officials believe a lot of help
can be expected from special grants.
-
- Property for Centennial Square is now owned
by Councilman Don Vlieger--who excused himself from
discussion and left the room--and the Sunnyside
Eagles. Vlieger owns about 40 percent of the
parcel; the Eagles, 60 percent.
-
- "Prices for the property are well under most
recent estimates" of its value, said City Mgr.
Hahnfeldt.
-
- The project was well received by the council
and audience.
-
- Local businessman George Johnson said the
project "sounds very nice on the surface...The
project has real merit."
-
- "I believe the city can count on support
from businesses. Scouts can raise money, and youth
groups can help clean up and maintain the project,"
Johnson suggested.
-
- Grant writer Willman said the city could
also apply at a future date for a Washington Arts
and Humanities grant for sculptures of Sunnyside
founders to grace the park way. Such items could
make the city an attractive venue for many
events.
Wendy Larson, Downtown Sunnyside Assn. Mgr.,
told the council the Centennial project would be a
great boon to the city.
She said the planned permanent stage at 6th
and Edison could be made round, so it points in all
directions. "It's potentially awesome. Events could
be held once a week with tens to hundreds of people
attending" she said.
She noted that Sunnyside hosts many historic
buildings, which are underutilized as tourist
attractions. "And we could have a Christmas tree
every year--a small one or a 40-foot tree", she
said.
Last, but not least, are the restrooms "One
complaint I've heard is there are no downtown
restrooms. When kids need to go--they need to go.
Public restrooms are a must," Larson said.
Hahnfeldt thanked Public Works Director Gary
Potter for his great work on the project.
-
|
