Downtown Parking Study Will Get Two Public Hearings

The city of Yakima has set two public hearings to talk about a parking study and proposed plaza designs for downtown Yakima.

City Economic Development Director Sean Hawkins says the first hearing is set for July 29, when the city will look at a completed parking study and how to deal with parking challenges downtown. He says a recent trip to Walla Walla to look at its downtown also found parking and other challenges.

There are some homeless and parking issues. But the parking issues there are similar to ours. It’s a sign of success. I think if people look back five or six years ago this wasn’t an issue down here.

After the parking study session the city will hold a hearing Aug. 5 to view four different plaza designs. One design is for a plaza on Second Street, three others are for the parking lot across from the Capitol Theatre downtown.

Hawkins says the next step will be for the council to begin narrowing down the designs and addressing funding issues.