Downtown redesign has parade organizers looking at alternatives

Third Avenue roundabout to change routes

MOSES LAKE — The city's two main parade organizers were clear to the Moses Lake City Council Tuesday night.

Rich Engelmann and Brent Kirwan applauded the city for their efforts to revitalize downtown, but stated final concerns about a roundabout in the center of one downtown intersection which would change the way parades are routed in Moses Lake.

"I love the downtown revitalization," said Kirwan, president of May's annual Spring Festival. "But it is going to have an impact on those two days."

At issue is the Rotary clock, which is planned to be the center of a roundabout at the intersection of Third Avenue and Ash Street. Engelmann and Kirwan came to ask, if it wasn't too late in the process, could they consider relocating the clock.

"We're all on the same team, but there were some concerns having that there," Kirwan said.

Engelmann, organizer of December's annual agricultural parade, told council members that floats 40 feet or longer physically wouldn't be able to make it through the intersection. The route would also pose a problem for large trucks and farm equipment, staples in the winter parade.

The city has already begun advertising contractor bids on the downtown construction project, and city Municipal Services Director Gary Harer told the council Tuesday that if they wanted to make a change the city would have to do it immediately and let potential contractors know.

The roundabout is one aspect of the downtown redesign, which will add wider sidewalks, extended curbs and slim the street from four to two lanes for one and a half blocks of downtown from Division Street to the Moses Lake Post Office. A stage, bathrooms and water and other elements will be also be added to the adjacent Sinkiuse Square.

Engelmann, Kirwan and the city council discussed efforts to find alternative parade routes during their discussion. Discussions centered around an extension of the route beyond Pioneer Way, or the idea of using the Moses Lake Fire Department rather than McCosh Park as the parade's staging area.

Council members did not take any action to move the clock, but were vocal in their support of helping parade organizers with alternative routes to try and accommodate the city's two major parades.

"We'll be willing to work with you any way we can to assist in that parade route," Mayor Ron Covey said.

Kirwan said after the meeting that he thought the plans would make downtown look splendid, but would pose problems getting people into the downtown business district those few times each year. Whatever does happen though, Kirwan said the parade organizers would adapt.

"We're all in agreement," Kirwan said of the downtown proposals. "There's just one piece of the downtown puzzle that we'd like to see moved one way or the other."

Also at Tuesday's council:

? The council approved a proposal to allow alcohol sales at the Larson ball field during Moses Lake Pirates baseball games this summer.

? Council members showed initial support for a proposed ban on smoking on certain places within city parks. The ban would impact facilities like the amphitheater and aquatic center, and in places where people congregate. The council will take final action June 27

? The council showed initial support for a plan to limit parking and storage of vehicles on city streets to 10 days. Final action on the ordinance is scheduled for June 27.