ART TO BE ADDED TO WILDWOOD ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

The Rio Dell City Council has adopted the general plan for the Wildwood Enhancement Project, and now it’s getting ready to be submitted to the California Transportation Commission in March.

 
"The basic project is establishing the medians, the vegetation, the landscape, the trees,” City Manager Jim Stretch said.
 
Stretch says those projects will be funded through a Caltrans grants.
 
“It's a $589,000 grant."
 
With the goal being to promote safety, by having scenery for passerby’s to slow-down and enjoy.
 
"It will involve 13 medians or islands that will be landscaped," Stretch said.
 
It’s a two-part project, the north end is already done, and the south end is set to complete by next summer.
 
Phase two starts at Davis Street and covers a half-mile spread of businesses and homes and then ends at the Eagle Prairie Bridge.
 
One of the medians will have two pedestals, where artists can display their work.
 
"Most people are just saying it's a long time coming," said Adam Dias, president of the Eagle Prairie Arts District.
 
Dias hopes this will bring business in for the artists.
 
"They see the art, they see the beautification of downtown, and hopefully they decide to start walking around some of the shops," Dias said.
 
Local artists have been working with the Council to add art into the project plans— that is not only eye-catching but will sustain the weather.
 
"If that turns out well and the community likes it, then there's always an opportunity to do more," Stretch said.
 
The Council also has other enhancements in mind, like a town-clock, street furniture and an additional welcome sign on the south end of town. But funding for those added features would be determined in spring, after the bidding for the initial plans in project is complete.