Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010 • Work continues on Uptown lot improvement

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010 edition of the Lassen County Times.

If the Historic Uptown Susanville Association gets its wish, then it won’t be long before both tourists and locals alike are able to enjoy a pocket park located in the lot between Johnson’s Shoes and Bicycle Bananas.

HUSA President Kathie Garnier said the ideas and plans for the park in the lot located at 706 Main St. is still very much in the preliminary stages, but because of the interest garnered by business owners and community members alike, HUSA is pushing at a steady pace to turn the space into a potential hub of activity for Uptown Susanville during events like the Uptown Christmas Celebration of the Fall Crafter’s Fair. Garnier said the park would also serve as an ideal resting place for the weary shopper, complete with benches and picnic benches done in a similar style to the benches already populating the Uptown District.

“The space actually consists of two lots,” Garnier said. “We are in lease with the owners of the larger portion, and the second lease is in the process of being signed now.”

Garnier said HUSA, through the city of Susanville, is leasing this property from the owners for a certain amount per month, and HUSA will insure against lost by liability claims and then HUSA covers the expenses.

Along with the benches and the picnic benches, early plans for the park will also include light fixtures, similar to the classic design of the lights in Uptown’s Pancera Plaza. Garnier said there were also plans for a pavilion in the front facing the street, that would allow people to more easily host and interact with people during one of the Main Street events. The front is expected to be concrete with bike racks for bicycle parking. HUSA plans to utilize some of the stone wall that was taken down in the initial effort to clean up the lot for a seating area as well. The park is planned to be handicap accessible, and the back of the lot is expected to have an addition of roughly six parking spaces. Garnier said the department was looking at trying to put in a water fountain to increase the aesthetic value as well. Garnier said there are plans in place to get plumbing in place for the fountain. She said there will be trees and grass at the park as well but they will be maintenance free.

While Garnier said HUSA was hoping the park would be finished by now, the progress being made on the park is steady. Garnier said that in the case either of the lot owners decide to utilize the space for a business in the future, all they would have to do is build on the park space.

“I know there’s not going to be another building there anytime soon,” Garnier said. “This is a nice way of improving that lot so it’s not an eyesore and it’s useable. And in the future of the owners actually want to build something in that lot, then fine, all you’ve got is plants.”

One of the other items was the addition of an information kiosk with pamphlets and fliers, similar to the one in front of the entrance to Susanville Ranch Park. Garnier said the kiosk will point people in the direction events, sites and shops for the town, providing a fun way for out-of-towners to quickly see what the town has to offer.

Garnier stressed the park is all just part of HUSA’s ongoing mission to try and bring more businesses to Uptown. She said what people need to know is that the money for this and similar Uptown projects comes directly from the merchants in Uptown, who want to see their district blossom despite the tough economy.