Friday, March 29, 2024

Summer shuttle route to run from Lakeside Park to Don Morse Park

Pumptrack/skate park updates

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CHELAN - To alleviate summer parking struggles all over town, the Chelan City Council agreed, at their June 4 workshop, on a route for the summer shuttle Link Transit will provide before the June 5 deadline. The summer shuttle which is estimated to start operating Fourth of July weekend will run from Lakeside Park, up to Slidewaters, to Chelan High School, through downtown Chelan, and loop around Don Morse Park as approved by councilemembers.

“This shuttle route has changed three times in the last 48 hours,” said Councilman Ray Dobbs during the workshop. One of the two route options included a shuttle bus from Lakeside Park up to Walmart on Apple Blossom Dr. which sparked conversations between the councilmembers.

For Councilman Servando Robledo the Walmart summer shuttle was a favorable option for him. “What we are looking at here, is just not getting folks to go up to the parking areas, it’s more of moving the community around,” was Robledo’s reasoning behind supporting this alternative route. Dobbs jumped in and explained to Robledo that a Dial Ride Service will start in September to accommodate the community that needs to get to different places in the valley for $1. “That’s the Walmart shuttle, that’s the clinic shuttle and that will go on all year as soon as it starts,” Dobbs added.

Councilwoman Erin McCardle, could see a shuttle up to Walmart being implemented in the future. “I am afraid that if we are just using this to get people up to Walmart, the demand is so much less for that than at the Parks. We really need a year with a demand for it and then expand it up to Walmart the next year,” she said.

Afterall, Robledo understood that the summer shuttle “has to start somewhere.” He clarified that he cares deeply about safety and he is excited to see the project grow to help people be off the streets. Mayor Mike Cooney threw in the option for the shuttle to just cover Lakeside Park up to the high school, yet it was turned down.

Another hot topic of discussion lately has been the future upgrades at the skate park in Don Morse Park, which include the addition of an asphalt pumptrack. City Administrator Mike Jackson informed the council that American Ramp Company will be in town this week to do an overview of the facility, plus start design conversations with the community. A public meeting will be held on June 19, beginning at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers by the City of Chelan and American Ramp Company to hear the community’s input regarding a skatepark/pumptrack design. For more information, please contact City Administrator Mike Jackson at 682-8014.
 

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