— MAKE IT PARADISE.ORG —
community
A rendering of a walkable downtown from UDA’s long term recovery plan. It can be seen at makeitparadise.org.
Construction of Paradise’s new downtown is underway on Almond Street By Marc Mattox
Public Works Director/Town Engineer
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onstruction for the Town of Paradise’s Almond Street and Downtown Gap Closure Projects are underway! This project fulfills one of the top five visions of the community’s Long-Term Recovery Plan, to provide a safe and walkable downtown, adopted by the Town Council in June 2019. This project will provide an alternative shopping area from the current highly trafficked Skyway.
Knife River Construction and their subcontractors began work in early April 2021 on the Town’s largest infrastructure project in decades. Upon completion, projected for December 2021, expect to find new roadways with landscaping and bicycle lanes along Birch, Fir and Black Olive and portions of Almond streets. New sidewalks and pedestrian lighting will support the much anticipated, walkable downtown. And, fulfilling another community priority, undergrounding of all overhead utilities will make this new downtown area appealing and safe for future visitors and shoppers.
This overall $8.2M effort is primarily funded by the State’s Active Transportation and Federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality using grants the Town secured between 20152017. The first stage of construction is the Almond Street area; when completed crews will commence work along portions of Birch, Fir and Black Olive thru the summer. The new sidewalks, curbs, gutters and roadway surfaces will follow.
With the recent exciting announcement of the 2021 Party in the Park season, the Town of Paradise will be coordinating with organizers and construction teams to ensure safe and successful events this summer. The public should expect changes in normal on-street parking availability for the events with special attention to the Town’s two public parking lots at the corner of Pearson and Black Olive and west of the intersection of Pearson and Black Olive. Finally, please help us support our business community during construction as we transition to a more complete, safe, and community-oriented downtown Paradise.
PARADISE RISING Resource Guide for the Ridge 2021/22..................................................................................................................73
