But the program was not a case of 12 UW students deciding what they thought the town needed. Throughout the duration of the program, they had to support the goals the community had already determined. According to Powers, students had to present their ideas to the roundtable before they went ahead with them. Powers outlined four areas of the action plan the UW students focused on when choosing independent projects - downtown revitalization, increased tourism, youth involvement and a mentoring program. The downtown revitalization project is perhaps the largest undertaking, since it will affect most of the residents and businesses of Wapato, and will be a permanent project in the community.
Empty storefronts give way to sidewalks that are uncommonly quiet, even for a small town artery.
Residents are counting on the street's rebirth to boost downtown business and begin to alleviate economic strain. Planners hope the project will breath some life into South Wapato Avenue, the dilapidated old main street of the town. The grant will be used to repave the street and sidewalks. The installation of a planter strip along both sides of the four-block stretch as well as 48 new trees will add visual appeal to the revamped road. Each tree will be framed by alternating plain bricks from the old train station and those featuring the children's artwork.