Depot Park design plans take shape

Master plans for a revamped Depot Park

have come into better focus after a park steering committee met

earlier this month to hammer out design details. The group talked

about street parking, how much hardscaping to include and where

public restrooms might be built.

A preliminary sketch by landscape

architect Bruce Boody shows sidewalks widened to 10 feet and

concrete pads rounding into each corner of the park where benches,

kiosks and trash receptacles could be installed.

A gazebo 36 feet in diameter is

proposed for the southeast corner, but the committee unanimously

decided it is too big. They don’t want a permanent structure that

large in the park, including the Chamber of Commerce’s proposed

band-shell. Committee member Rhonda Fitzgerald noted that the

Tuesday Farmers Market wouldn’t use a gazebo for music.

After a vote, the large gazebo was axed

from plans, but Boody was advised to look into a smaller structure

similar to the pavilions at City Beach and Riverside Park.

A row of street trees are planned for

the west side of Depot Park along Central Avenue. An evergreen tree

is proposed to go on the south side which could be used as a

holiday tree in the winter.

The spruce trees currently in the park

around the Planning Department building will likely be removed when

the building is taken out.

The interior of the park is proposed to

have about 15 trees, including some that are currently there, and

the pond will be removed. A water feature could go in the northwest

corner, Boody suggested.

The railroad sculpture currently near

the northwest corner is planned to go next to the Great Northern

train engine at the end of Central Avenue. That area will be

street- and landscaped.

A bus shelter and bike racks could go

on the west side of Central Avenue on BNSF property if given

permission. Public restrooms are proposed to be built onto the

O’Shaughnessy Center along Railway Street.

About 30 parking spaces will be added

around the park, including the addition of angle parking along

Depot Street. The idea of back-in or reverse-angle parking was

discussed with mixed reaction. It was noted that back-in parking is

used in some metropolitan areas, such as Portland, Ore., and that

studies show it is the most pedestrian-friendly and safest parking

method. It could, however, create confusion and traffic issues.

Streetscaping on the west side of the

park will begin in September when the northern blocks of Central

Avenue are streetscaped and repaved as part of the Central Avenue

improvement project.

Parks and Recreation Director Karl

Cozad said the master plan could be adopted by the city some time

in November. There will be another open house this summer for the

public to make suggestions about the plan.