Director of public works, Kim Ashmore, points out cameras that will be monitoring the new parking lot near the Discovery Trail Friday afternoon in Centralia.
Director of public works, Kim Ashmore, points out where signs will be located around the new parking lot near the Discovery Trail Friday afternoon in Centralia.
Centralia city staff think they may have come up with a way to stem the reported tide of illicit activities taking place near the entrance to the Discovery Trail near Goodrich Road.
The parking area at the end of the road where residents have said people frequent to use drugs, engage in sex acts and otherwise disturb the neighborhood will be closed in favor of a new gravel lot adjacent to the city wastewater treatment facility. The new lot is expected to open to the public sometime next week.
Though the parking area will not move far, city officials are optimistic that increased security measures and proximity to city facilities will help bring peace to the area. The public lot itself will be open from dawn to dusk, addressing an issue that arose when the previous parking lot was open until 10 p.m. year-round, regardless of when the sun set.
“Our hope is that with the lighting and security cameras as well as better signage, we’re not going to see as many of the people who are causing the problems,” said Kim Ashmore, public works director for Centralia. “The light we’ll install on a pole by the restrooms, we’ll put a motion-sensor LED light on there so that hopefully, the light comes on and it scares them away. Otherwise, we can look at the footage and get a license plate, if not faces.”
Ashmore said new signs ordered by the city will be crucial to the chances of the new lot being a success. Patrons will be informed of the security measures in place, directed away from employee parking spaces, and directed back out to the entrance of the Discovery Trail. Maps will be available for people who require a more detailed look at the area.
Those who live in the area of Goodrich Road have mixed feelings regarding the swap. They’re appreciative of the city’s efforts to work with them following complaints registered at multiple city council meetings, but skeptical of its effectiveness.
“Yeah, maybe the shady people will leave, but the traffic to use it will still be an issue,” said Teresa Linwood. “That was the main issue at the start, the excessive traffic. The people that go and get compost (at the wastewater treatment plant), they’re supposed to use the access road off Harrison Avenue, but they come down Goodrich Road. I guess we’ll hope and see.”
Ashmore said changes to the trail access itself or additional measures related to traffic aren’t in the city’s plans for the short term, but that they’ll continue to monitor the situation and address needs as they arise.
“If anything, we would look at the possibility of moving parking to another area and if we had to create more trail for people to get to that parking area,” Ashmore said. “We want to see if this solution works first. We’ll have the existing area shut down and be able to monitor this one a bit more. Right now, there are no plans to move it again or add to the trail. It’s just a possibility for the future.”
