At an open house on May 21, community members explored seven proposed strategies to revitalize Old Town Battle Ground. The event at City Hall marked the third public input session since the city began developing a subarea plan in the spring of 2024.
No final designs have been selected, but the evening's presentation laid out conceptual ideas for how to turn East Main Street, from North Parkway Avenue to Fairgrounds Park, into a more walkable, attractive destination for residents and visitors alike.
At the open house, a table featured a conceptual map of the new subarea plan. Residents provided direct feedback on a large aerial photograph of the area using sticky notes.
A recurring theme in those notes was parking.
"There's an imbalance of private parking to public parking," Jason Graf of First Forty Feet, the city's consultant, said. "When you come to Main Street, you can park at one place and then you have to drive to the next and leapfrog."
Of the 890 total parking spaces in the area, 66 percent are privately owned. Concepts presented to attendees include redesigning side streets for angled parking, converting some driveways into curbside spaces and constructing new public lots. These options could add up to 118 public parking spaces, totaling 424.
The city is also considering shared-use agreements with private businesses. That could add another 117 spaces, about 20% of which would be open to the public.
Graf said a vacant lot north of Main Street near the food cart pod is promising, as it could hold 50 to 60 public spaces. Other potential lots are under consideration.
"Now you can walk to Tukes [Taphouse], you can walk to Urban Basics, and you can do this walkable chain trip if you have the available parking," Graf said.
One of the most prominent concepts is restructuring the flow of traffic. If truck traffic is shifted to an alternate route along Southeast First Street, it could free up room for wider sidewalks, safer pedestrian crossings, and new street furniture.
"It creates more zones and space for people," Graf said. "You've got enough room for two people to walk, trees, lights and benches. You can get out of your car and walk to the sidewalk."
Proposed street design features include curb extensions, raised intersections and decorative lighting. Graf also noted the potential for murals on the silos at Anderson Dairy, though discussions are still early.
Utilities also need major upgrades. Graf said the area's stormwater, sewer and water systems have reached the end of their usable life and will need replacement before above-ground work can move forward. The city is considering moving utilities underground to expand sidewalk space for pedestrians and businesses.
Public gathering space was another notable priority. One concept calls for converting the vacant lot between Kid Cloz and Cloud 9 Salon into a small plaza with seating, public art and children's play features. Graf said the city may test this idea with a temporary installation.
Local businesses are also exploring their own improvements. Founders Market has suggested an outdoor movie lawn. Happy Family, a local business with a deep setback from the street, may expand with outdoor seating.
Walkability and neighborhood access were also discussed. The plan recommends new sidewalks and bike facilities on Southeast 2nd and Southeast Clark avenues to better connect residents to downtown. In previous surveys, more than 75 percent of participants preferred walking between businesses when the route was safe and accessible.
The city has also explored repurposing underutilized land for development. In order of importance, community input indicated high interest in a public food hall, a central plaza, and more housing over storefronts.
The state legislature has allocated $500,000 for engineering and design work. City officials anticipate adopting the final subarea plan in June, with planning commission and city council reviews set for likely July and August.
Adopting the plan would not authorize construction but would establish priorities and direction. It would also help the city pursue state and federal funding.
An online version of the survey provided at last week's community meeting can be found at surveymonkey.com/r/P9HMPRD.
