Picture downtown Iola’s spacious sidewalks dotted with benches, trees and containers full of colorful flowers.
Iola citizens could see it Thursday night as part of the Vision Iola process. Four trees per block along the outer edge of the sidewalks would provide shade; the benches, a respite for shoppers and strollers. The planters, relief to the otherwise gray palette of the city’s 16-foot-wide sidewalks.
Bulb-outs — extensions at crosswalks that serve to slow automobile traffic and shorten the walking distance across streets — were incorporated in the design by Landworks Studio, the Olathe firm hired by the City of Iola and Thrive Allen County to design an enhanced downtown.
The look is a more intimate downtown that invites people to linger.
Iola’s downtown is already in a good position because its major components — sidewalks, curbs, lighting and, to a lesser degree, trash receptacles — are in great shape, said Carisa McMullen, Landworks owner.
McMullen and her team of Dale Stafford, a designer, and Holly Powers, a construction engineer technician, discussed with about a dozen Iolans the results of a recent survey about the needs of downtown and how to incorporate people’s wishes into a downtown plan.
Forty-three participated in the online survey at visioniola.com. The results showed that downtown is heavily used during the work week by both pedestrians and those who drive to the square.
Three-fourths of respondents expressed the desire for more retail options downtown. Almost 80 percent would like to see more food and dining opportunities. Trees planted alongside the outer edge of the square were favored by almost 50 percent. And benches got a strong 60 percent.
Other items mentioned that would enhance downtown included a market and a play area for children.
Financing of the downtown beautification project would be sought through the Kansas Department of Transportation, which funds 80 percent of the cost of approved projects. Municipalities are obligated to fund the remaining 20 percent.
The work around the square is best done in stages, said Powers, whose responsibility is to write the grant application. She suggested having a master plan ready upon submission to KDOT, with certain streets given priority. Madison Avenue, for example, which also serves as Highway 54, would likely be the first stage of the downtown enhancements.
The Vision Iola Web site, visioniola.com, explains the three prongs of its program. So far, signage for the town and its downtown beautification have been addressed. At the April 22 meeting, the team will present its final vision for the downtown square. Next, community involvement will be requested on the town’s parks and trails.
For more information call Jeff Bauer of the City of Iola at 365-4903 or David Toland of Thrive Allen County at 365-8128.
Vision focuses on sidewalks, crossings
