Street help recommended

Springdale committee gives OK for work downtown

SPRINGDALE — More street improvements to the city’s downtown were recommended by city leaders Monday.

The City Council Committee recommended more Emma Avenue street and drainage improvement be approved at the next council meeting.

“This is going to address the streetscape between Blair Street and Shiloh Street on Emma Avenue and also improve the inlets that are located there as well,” said Melissa Reeves, city public relations director.

Mayor Doug Sprouse said the streetscape work will enable the city to stay ahead of development.

The improvement will provide Americans with Disability Act accessibility to that section of Emma.

“Right now if you walk or drive through this area, (you will see that) the sidewalk is a lot higher than it is in other areas,” Reeves said. “It’s not ideal, and we want to make it accessible for everybody.”

The improvement will also enhance parking and landscaping, Reeves said.

“We want to make sure there is adequate parking and that the parking and landscaping in the way it is laid out is attractive,” she said.

The area between Blair and Shiloh has parallel parking. Engineering Services will design a proposal, and city officials will determine how much of the parking is going to be angled and how much is going to be parallel, Reeves said.

The streetscape work will be similar to work happening on Emma east of the railroad tracks, according to Reeves.

“But this construction work will not be nearly as disruptive as the work on the east side of the railroad tracks. It will be done a lot quicker,” she said. “We’re hoping to be completely done by the end of summer.”

Construction is estimated at $619,917, according to city documents.

Streetscape improvements are part of the city’s Downtown Plan. Sprouse said after the Blair to Shiloh work, the city will likely proceed with work from Blair to the railroad tracks, followed by work from Shiloh to Thompson.