Avalon Theatre officials are looking to add a small park, or parklet, in front of the building at, 121 S. Main St. Above is an overhead view of the parklet, which will protrude into the street and take up about four parking spots in the Uptown. The sidewalk will remain open for pedestrians, as shown below. (Photos submitted)
Parklet considered along street
Marysville Uptown could be getting a new park, or at least a parklet.
At Monday night’s City Council work session, Sarah Barr, executive director of Marysville Uptown Theatre, the nonprofit organization, presented a plan to create a “parklet” in the street in front of the Avalon Theater, 121 S. Main St.
Barr said a parklet is “an extension of the sidewalk that provides green space for the community.”
“They have a major contributor who has been involved in the planning of the parklet,” said City Administrator Terry Emery, who also sits on the Marysville Uptown Theatre board.
Barr said the parklet would cost about $250,000.
The parklet would occupy the four parking spots in front of the Avalon Theatre. There would be barriers and planters to protect the park from traffic debris as well as noise. Inside the parklet would be benches, tables and chairs, fire pits and other planters.
The parklet would be in the public right-of-way. It would be owned and maintained by the Avalon Theatre but would be open for anyone in the Uptown.
Emery said the parklet would be open from April to November. He said before the weather gets bad, the parklet would be dismantled and stored in a city facility. Emery said city staff would install and remove the parklet so the city would be able to main control of the timing and quality of the work.
Emery said the missing spots would not be as critical because during high traffic events the theatre will offer valet parking.
Council member Deb Groat said that even though it is only four spots, “I see the backlash this will cause.”
Council member Donald Boerger agreed. He said he can see this being a popular idea with business owners.
“All of a sudden, we are going to have a community where there is not enough parking,” Boerger said, stressing that he would never vote to demolish a building to create parking.
Council member Aaron Carpenter said the message could be confusing to residents.
“I can just foresee residents saying, ‘You are getting rid of parking,’ when I think most people think we should be adding parking,” Carpenter said.
He asked about the creation of a parking master plan.
Emery said there are, “things coming up where we are going to be adding parking.” He said he feels there has always been adequate parking in the Uptown.
Boerger said there could be other issues as well. He said he can see hard feelings among other businesses if the city helps Avalon create a parklet each year and stores the items, but not them.
“The reality is, this is what has happened in the past and I don’t want that to happen in the future,” Boerger said.
Officials said there is already similar things at other locations, specifically mentioning the Half Pint restaurant on Fifth Street.
Emery said that was created in response to restrictions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“That is not what parklets will look like,” Emery said, noting that he does expect the idea to gain popularity among Uptown businesses.
He explained that the Avalon Theatre parklet will, “set a precedent, set a threshold what we think a parklet needs to look like.”
Council member J.R. Rausch said the city could help because the Avalon is not a business but rather a non-profit organization. He explained that the city and state have already contributed about $400,000 to the restoration.
While there was no timeline for the project, City Planner Ashley Gaver said the parklet would still need to go through the design review board and administrative approval. She said there needs to be safety standards for traffic and pedestrians, both at the park and on the sidewalk.
Barr said the theatre would be in charge of cleaning and maintaining the parklet.
Barr said theatre officials spoke with the businesses directly beside the theatre and both were in favor of the parklet. She said she has not talked with any other businesses in the Uptown.
Council president Henk Berbee said he likes the vibrancy of the Uptown and hopes the parklet would add to it.