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City Plaza is
reborn
By JENN KLEIN - Chico ER Staff Writer
11/17/2006
The City Plaza reopened to the public Thursday in downtown
Chico. People came out in the evening...
After more than a year of construction, $4.1 million in
construction costs and endless complaints by residents, City
Plaza reopened quietly. Workers took down the fence around
City Plaza at 4 a.m. Thursday. The city chose the early morning
hour to avoid interfering with traffic, said General Services
Director Dennis Beardsley.
The park at the heart of downtown was already in use at 6:35
a.m. when Erin O'Neil and Al Petersen decided to play a game of
chess on the plaza's new tables in the hopes of being the first
people to do so.
Beardsley said construction crews still have to finish a few
minor details on the park, like the installation of lighting
fixtures. "For all practical purposes of the public, it's
finished," Beardsley said.
Twenty-four benches are also waiting to go in. Twelve have
plaques purchased by locals in memory of a loved one or as a
commemorative plate. The others will have blank plaques that are
still available for purchase. The contributions pay for the
benches, Beardsley said.
Many residents stopped to check it out after stumbling on the
newly opened plaza as they walked by.
"I was surprised it was open," Chico resident Greg Scott said.
"It's great. I think it's a great addition to the city."
"I love it," Michael Farrety said at the plaza with his
2-year-old daughter. "I think all the naysayers should be eating
crow right now. & Chico needs to modernize."
But others, like Marcia Wilson, remain unpleased with the
redesign of City Plaza. She said it would not provide enough
shade and there was nowhere to sit.
"I don't like any of it. & I'm upset that progress has to rip up
something that's been there all my life. I don't understand why
they have to take up the park and ruin it," Wilson said.
"I just think this is rude. Too much concrete, not enough grass
and no shade. Yeah, 30 years down the line when I'm dead there
will be shade (when the trees grow) & but that's not going to do
me any good," she added.
Others expressed
concerns about just who will use the plaza.
"My comment is simple. The homeless needed showers," Guy
Halloberten said, referring to the fountain in the park.
Katie Zukoski noticed a homeless man already in City Plaza, but
said she thought the openness of the plaza might mean it would
not be as overrun with homeless people as before.
"I'm hoping. I want to be able to bring my kids here and feel
safe myself," said Zukoski, whose children ran in and out of the
fountain. Zukoski said the family had been watching City Plaza
develop and were eager to check out the finished product. While
the site looked like it was full of concrete during
construction, she was pleased to see the end result, calling the
plaza "open and welcoming." "I love it. & I miss the old
elms, how could you not? But these trees will grow," Zukoski
said.
City Plaza is closed from 2 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, but
passers-by can walk through it.
Butch Hastaran was surprised to find he actually liked the park.
He said he expected not to after hearing so many people speak
badly about it. "I really like it. It's better than I
thought it would be," Hastaran said, noting that he loved the
fountain and thought the area in front of the grandstand looked
like it would have a lot room to dance.
Beardsley said the parks division is also talking with the Chico
Area Recreation and Park District about holding events,
including chess tournaments, in City Plaza. He would like to see
about 150 to 200 events a year. "That's what this facility
was built for," Beardsley said.
Greg Melton of the plaza's principal designer, Land Image
Landscape Architects, said residents were very patient with
construction crews during the process. "I think they're
going to be happy with the wait," Melton said.
The plaza's fountain will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
to 7:30 p.m. daily. Melton said the base of the fountain is
designed to look like a view of the globe from outer space. Four
arrows, which Melton said are meant to represent the four waters
of Chico, on each of City Plaza's four corners lead to the
fountain. The four arrows then converge into one arrow that
circles around and into the fountain where it points to where
Chico is on the globe.
Sue Luallen brought her 3-year-old grandson, Jack Antoine, with
her to the plaza and smiled at him as he ran in and out of the
fountain in his rain boots. "We were just driving by and
saw it was open," Luallen said. "I think it's great. Change is
difficult, but it's beautiful. It's not like the old one, but
it's great." "I like it because it has a fountain. It goes
up and down," Antoine Giovanni said.
City Plaza used to hold about 200 trees planted during Chico
founder John Bidwell's time. A branch from one of the elms fell
and hit a person sitting on a bench. The 2003 incident prompted
the removal of the trees, which had rotting roots. Many
Chico residents expressed dismay about their removal.
"It's sad. It's like using losing your favorite grandfather,"
local arborist Joseph O'Neil. "I liked the feel of
the old park," Greg Alan said. "It's a shame they had to take it
down." O'Neil said the new trees in the park will
have a life span of 75 to 150 years. "I think there's a lot of
cement but I do like it though," O'Neil said. "I think everyone
has to be patient. There's some good tree selection made but
it's going to take 20 years for them to grow in."
Beardsley said City Plaza's cost to date is $4.1 million, but
the city has not yet closed the contract.
"I'm a visual artist by vocation and I give it two thumbs up. I
am not so happy about the price tag," Christina Aranguren said.
A public ribbon cutting for City Plaza will be at at 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 29. A grand opening will be held in the spring. The city
will also hold a Christmas tree lighting at the plaza at 6 p.m.
Dec. 1.
Staff writer Jenn Klein can be reached at 896-7767 or jklein@chicoer.com.
BACKGROUND: A fallen tree in 2003 prompted a redesign of City
Plaza. Many residents expressed dismay over the removal of the
trees and the redesign of the plaza.
WHAT'S NEW: City Plaza opened Thursday after construction crews
removed the fence at 4 a.m.
WHAT'S NEXT: The city will hold a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 29, and a grand opening in the spring.
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