The project has suffered some definite hits in the local media, but pedestrians appreciate the work, and traffic has definitely slowed. Park Street is due for a resurfacing later this year, at which time final lane markings will be applied and the temporary orange posts removed. Also, the completion of plantings later this spring will make the bump-outs look more finished. In order to protect a large tree, the bump-outs at Farish Street were built slightly different from the original design, in a way that has made exiting from Farish and Parkway a bit tighter than had been anticipated. NDRA is adding a plaque to the bench in grateful acknowledgment of the gift.
Traffic calming and general road redesign remain a priority for other locations in North Downtown.
These locations were discussed at length with Tarpley Vest at the February 15 meeting on the Comprehensive Plan. If you have concerns about other streets, please let an NDRA Board member know and we will share this information with the City's Neighborhood Planning department. A North Downtown resident has called our attention to the woeful condition of some of the trees along the Mall, some of which have outgrown the sidewalk opening at their base, cutting into their bark. While openings on the eastern blocks of the mall were enlarged a couple of years ago, those on the west end still need attention, particularly the blocks on either side of 1st Street. As this resident notes, It has taken years for the trees to reach their present level of maturity and beauty as well as their important air-cleaning usefulness.