In a recent government meeting, the design team provided an update on the downtown rejuvenation project for Chehalis, emphasizing its goals to enhance the vibrancy and cultural identity of the area. The project aims to activate underutilized spaces, ensuring they are pedestrian-friendly while accommodating vehicles, bicycles, and individuals of all ages and mobilities. A key commitment from the team is to maintain and potentially increase parking availability, addressing community concerns about accessibility.

The design process is currently in its second phase, following a successful initial engagement that gathered community input on desired features for downtown. The team has concluded an online survey and is now analyzing the feedback to develop a preferred concept, which will be presented to the public by mid-November. This concept will incorporate community suggestions and will be backed by engineering insights to ensure feasibility.

The design team highlighted their approach of involving the community throughout the process, including workshops and open houses where residents could directly contribute ideas. This collaborative effort has resulted in a wealth of feedback, which the team is now distilling into actionable design concepts.

As the project progresses, the team is focused on creating a comprehensive plan that not only reflects the community's vision but is also practical for future construction and funding opportunities. The next steps will include presenting the preferred concept and further refining the design based on ongoing community engagement.