It's time to Makeover Mattawa Help choose a new city design at meeting this Saturday

MATTAWA — Makeover Mattawa, which is a combined effort between the City of Mattawa and Wahluke Schools, may take a giant leap forward this Saturday.

The Committee for Government Road (the main street) Updates will hold a public meeting on April 23 for the purpose of selecting a design plan for the street from among several options.

The meeting, to which all residents are invited, will be held in Grant County Fire District No. 8 fire station on Government Road. It will begin at 4 p.m. Visitors will be able to view the options.

The designs were produced by Washington State University’s Rural Communities Design Initiative. WSU students and professors visited Wahluke on several occasions to look over the city and take input from residents.

One of the goals of the project is to attract travelers from Highway 243 to visit the city and frequent business establishments. Another is to create a safer street for vehicles and pedestrians.

The options visitors will see are the reshaping of the street and the addition of streetscapes. Mattawa would take on an oasis-in-the-desert look.

Makeover Mattawa is a long process. After the folks select a design, engineers will develop cost estimates, and the Committee will start seeking federal and state funding options.