The rendering above offers an early glimpse at some of the improvements proposed for Riverside Park by the Centralia Rotary Club.
The Centralia City Council approved the Centralia Rotary Club’s vision and initial project design for the upcoming upgrades to Riverside Park on Tuesday.
The Centralia Rotary Club has developed a two-year project to update the park, including the construction of basketball courts, a picnic shelter, bocce ball courts and a soccer field. The project will also replace the aging signage, improve the park’s Americans With Disabilities Act accessibility and reconstruct the skate park with concrete ramps. The project is estimated to cost between $1 million and $1.5 million, The Chronicle reported in July. The club will work with Centralia College, the city and other community partners to gather resources and find grants.
“I think it is a wonderful plan,” Councilor Joyce Barnes said. “The more we can have for children and families the happier I am.”
The council asked if the city could do anything, such as mow the area between the trail and the river or install lighting to help prevent crime.
Community Development Director Emil Pierson said the area is in the floodway, meaning it is protected from development, so those suggested measures could not be done. However, some trees not in the floodway can be trimmed to improve visibility in the area. The improvements themselves will also help to reduce crime in the area, he added, because more people will be drawn to the area, making it a less appealing place for criminal activity.
