By John Howell
Batesville Main Street Manager Colleen Clark and design committee representative Sue Womble presented, during Tuesday’s meeting of city officials, a revised proposal for a pocket park at the Eureka Street entrance to the Public Square.
The proposal was created by ILLUSvis architectural designer Angela Clanton, revised from her original 2013 “Gateway Park” proposal to allow straighter alignment for Eureka Street in its approach to the railroad crossing. The city purchased the old service station that stood on the property and demolished the building in 2013, leaving a vacant lot. The west wall of the block of Will Polk and Company buildings was sealed and painted but the lot stood vacant until last fall’s Polar Express Train Ride.
Batesville Main Street created a Christmas scene on the property that included an oversize sleigh where visitors posed for photos.
“I wish we had a count of how many pictures were taken,” Alderman Eddie Nabors said.
“It’s so important as the entrance to downtown,” Clark said.
Clark requested approval to move forward to the project’s next phase.
“This is considering what the engineer will be doing with the handicap ramps and the street,” Clark said.
Clanton’s drawing shows a graduated walkway along the south and east perimeters of the property that will allow wheelchair access to the raised sidewalk that begins at Stephen Whatley’s Edward Jones office. The space will include planter beds. The art wall that was the focus of Clanton’s original plan remains, creating an attractive, colorful focus at the entrance to the Square.
Roadway construction should be complete by next year’s return of the Polar Express Train Ride, but construction of a “pocket park” may be incomplete.
Engineer Mendrop said that work on Eureka Street and the pocket park was postponed during preparation for the Polar Express Train Ride last year.
A Christmas photo setting will be created again this fall for Polar Express visitors, possibly near the Memorial Park, Clark said.