Painesville square to get upgrades

Painesville announced an upcoming project that will improve accessibility and aesthetics in the city.

The North Park Place Transportation Enhancement Project will be located in front of the new Lake County Administration Building site on the northeast corner of Veteran’s Park and is a joint project between Lake County and the City of Painesville, according to a news release.

The project, that will include road and sidewalks upgrades surrounding the square in Downtown Painesville, is scheduled for construction in spring 2019.

“For an active downtown space, we want to embrace a true pedestrian-friendly environment that is safe, comfortable and inviting to both walkers and vehicles in the town square,” said Doug Lewis, assistant city manager and project manager. “Right now, the perimeter of the square is very vehicle focused. This project will still maintain the convenience of driving and parking around the square, but improve the experience for pedestrians in the northeast corner. By bumping the park out and creating a landscaping space in front of the new Administration Building, we are making a more visually pleasing and safer improvement for residents, workforce members and county visitors.”

The goal of the improvements is to improve the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists who are vulnerable in the long corner crosswalk that currently exists and improve the look and functionality of the northeast corner of the park in time for the Administration Building’s grand opening in mid- 2019, the release also states.

The new administration building is being built at 85 N. Park Place in Painesville and will be connected to the existing building at 105 Main St. The existing building is also getting some renovation work as part of the project.

The new building will centralize some of the county departments currently scattered throughout the area, such as the administrative offices of the Engineer’s Office.

The North Park Place Transportation Enhancement Project will include roadway narrowing in the corner, storm water quality improvements, landscaping, benches, bike racks, porous pavers, lighting and redesigned street parking.

The Lake County Commissioners office helped Painesville obtain $302,699 from the Transportation for Livable Cities grant to use toward the project. The city also was granted $150,000 from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency for the improvements.

“Painesville is a walkable city. With the new LakeTran transportation center on St. Clair Street, this project is looking to draw visitors and residents from Main Street into Veteran’s Park and back,” said City Planner Lynn White.

The 2019 northeast corner project is the first phase of improvements Painesville has for the street area surrounding Veteran’s Park.

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