Tri-Citians can help shape the future of Columbia Drive by taking an online survey and sharing their thoughts.
The input will help consultants hired by the Port of Kennewick develop a plan for 28 acres of riverfront south of Clover Island to spruce up the area and the shoreline between Clover Island and the cable bridge.
The survey, put together by Kennewick’s Arculus Design & Technical Services, is available at www.arculus.net. Click on projects and then on Columbia Drive Revitalization Plan.
The site also offers a downloadable copy of the draft plan, which proposes having an IMAX theatre, gondola, ice skating rink and lawn bowling court in the revitalized downtown area near Clover Island.
A carousel, amphitheater, condos, and restaurants are some of the other proposed features. The plan also shows many options, such as walking paths, wildlife viewing and paddleboat rentals, to enhance the charm of Duffy’s Pond and Catfish Island.
It’s about revitalizing downtown Kennewick and helping it become a destination in the next decade or so, port officials say.
It’ll reinvigorate the area, help the downtown identify itself and give community members something to readily connect to, said Steve Mallory, principal architect at Arculus.
The Arculus team continues to give presentations to community leaders and stakeholders to solicit ideas to take the project forward, he said.
Rep, Larry Haler, R-Richalnd, recently suggested potential funding options for the project after a presentation, Mallory said.
Ben Franklin Transit’s suggestion to have a transit center will be incorporated into the next draft plan, said Chris Baugh, project lead for Arculus. It’ll be on the southeast end of Columbia Park, he said.
A suggestion to have a pedestrian walkway on Washington Street to connect to historic downtown also will be included on the next draft, Mallory said.
The idea behind the survey is to get everyone involved and tweak the plans as needed, he said. “We’re completely open.”
A link to the survey is also available at the Port of Kennewick website at www.portofkennewick.org.
Source: Tri-City Herald