Features Of The Downtown Plaza Would Be A Game Changer [VIDEO]

After several years of planning, designing and debate, the future of Yakima’s proposed downtown central plaza will soon be determined. Change is hard for most people and a vision for all that the plaza is designed to do can be a challenge to convey. More than a park, more than a gathering spot or hangout, more than a tourist attraction, the plaza is all that and so much more, but first and foremost the plaza is meant to be an economic driver. It’s a programmable space designed to draw crowds on a regular basis and in turn attract new business looking to serve the masses that come to the plaza activities.

The loss of parking has been offset by additional angled spaces and new nearby lots opened for public use but that message seems to have fallen on a lot of deaf ears.

The city’s share of the project is 7 million to be paid for with bonds over 20 years at about $400,000-plus per year and 7 million in like contributions from private donors with over $5 million now committed to the project.

Since the beginning the project has been called a “game changer” because it will significantly change the landscape and old habits for visiting downtown. Will the residents embrace it, will the new city council catch the vision the public process generated or will they turn their backs on millions in goodwill and economic opportunity, will the additional millions in private investments fill in the empty storefronts and revitalize the area with new business and recreation as has happened following the establishment of so many other plazas around the country? Time will soon tell but first, in case you missed the general idea of how the plaza will look and function we offer this brief video explanation.