City sidewalk plan enters next phase

EL DORADO — The City of El Dorado is moving ahead with the next phase of an ongoing effort to improve downtown sidewalks.

With funds that are left over from phase two, which was completed last year, crews are now replacing sidewalks on West Cedar between Jefferson and Hill.

During an El Dorado City Council meeting on April 20, aldermen passed a resolution to accept a federal grant from the Transportation Alternatives Program to steer the project northward along North West Avenue between West Main and Grove.

“This came up rather rapidly. (Robert Edmonds, director of public works) found some money to do some sidewalks downtown,” Mayor Frank Hash said then.

Edmonds later said the 80/20 matching grant is for $500,000, and the project is estimated at $650,000.

He said the city is waiting on approval from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department for the proposed project on North West Avenue, or U.S. 167B.

“I think we’re probably close with the state. I’m not sure exactly when, but it’ll be within the next month,” Edmonds said.

He said the northern grid would pick up Peach between North West Avenue and Jackson, three blocks of Oak and three blocks of Cleveland.

“We’re still going to have to go through the design and construction estimates. It’s going to take some time to do all that,” Edmonds said.

The city launched the project in 2013 after receiving complaints and reports of people tripping and falling over warped and buckled sidewalks downtown.

Phase one was completed in 2014 with the help of federal, matching grant of $450,000.

City officials agreed to use concrete pavers, which they said were attractive and easier to remove if needed for repairs.

The city dipped into the then-El Dorado Forward economic development tax to pay for phase two.

The $2.75 million of

a $9.02 million funding package that was requested by El Dorado Festivals and Events, Inc. was approved.

Who is steering a $100 million project to developing an arts and entertainment district on the south end of downtown.

Festivals and Events also used the $9 million to purchase property within the project area of Cedar, Jefferson, Locust and Hill and to renovate Oil Heritage Park.

The properties, including Oil Heritage

Park, will be given to the city and leased and maintained by Festivals and Events.

Union County contributed $300,000 to phase of the sidewalk project to replace the sidewalks surrounding the courthouse.

Edmonds said previously that costs for the project would decrease as crews fanned further out from the downtown square, explaining that phase one included water and electrical hookups to accommodate large outdoor events.

He said phase two came under budget, and there was enough money left to pick up a couple of blocks on Cedar.

Also, included in the project had been the removal of older trees and the planting of new ones to help prevent the roots from growing upward and busting up the sidewalks.