Chillicothe — The plans to renovate Yoctangee Park and the streets around it got another public review, centering around a five-station roundtable-style gathering.
Council held the ‘part two’ of the unfinished session from March 10th at the Ross County Service Center on Thursday, ending with a recommendation on action, for council tonight.
In the previous story from April 10th, hear committee chair Creed in his own words, as well as Tony Lenhart of American Structurepoint, on the result of the meeting.
Below, see my snapshots of the draft plans and description of each of the five stations. You can faintly see the aerial photo of the current conditions under the added tints: black asphalt, grey concrete sidewalks and bicycle lanes, red brick, and green turf.
Two major points of discussion were two roads in the park.
The main road that connects Mill Street and Paint Street, often referred to as the “Interior Road” and Tritscheller Road (actually Alexander Road), was originally proposed to be cut off between the park lake and old Armory.
This was recommended in the 1993 park plan – and was proposed again by American Structurepoint to prevent traffic through the park to make it safer.
Traffic plan inside Yoctangee Park – with Memorial Armory in the center, Water Street along bottom, Yoctangee Boulevard along the left, and Mill Street at the roundabout in left center:
An alternative was proposed to allow the road to remain, but realigned to enter the traffic circle / cul de sac at the armory at a different angle. They said this angle was required by engineering standards and safety considerations to slow traffic at the proposed drop-off point. It would also require earthen fill in a low point in the park for the new roadway, and removal of trees.
The conclusion was to reroute the road, and not remove it:
The other point was whether the lakeside road (part of Enderlin Circle) would become two-way, with paved parking spaces. Discussion included safety for pedestrians and waterfowl. The conclusion was to make the road two-way, with the option of possibly returning it to one-way.
As included in the first story, also see the one video sample of the five discussions below, on this topic.
The replacement for Baseball Diamond No. 1 behind Chillicothe High School is properly oriented to the afternoon sun. (A consultant said he was told the current diamond could not be oriented worse.)
Though the roundabout at Water and Paint is shown, is has been dropped.
Riverside Street at Mulberry is now a more significant intersection, with the proposed Welcome Center relocated to the site of the city facility there (upper left corner).
Water Street between Yoctangee / Walnut and Paint (and beyond) – two options, top and bottom.
A “road diet” reduces Water Street down to two lanes with a middle turn / passing lane. There are two variations: The 14-foot lanes allow safer shared use by bicycles; the 11-foot lanes allow wider sidewalks.
No roundabouts.
Water Street between Western Avenue and Yoctangee / Walnut. Again, a “road diet” reduces Water Street down to two lanes with a middle turn / passing lane.
Yoctangee Parkway (north is to the right). Also with a “road diet,” reducing it to two lanes with middle lane. Bicycle lanes separated from pavement on both sides.
The remaining roundabout is proposed for the intersection with Mill Street, as being much more safe for schoolchildren.
The street then widens back out to its four lanes in front of the school.
