A new sidewalk to connect businesses on the north side of Coos Bay with downtown, has been proposed by the community-wide Flags and Flowers Committee, to make pedestrian travel safer and encourage more tourists to walk downtown.

Chris Coles, a member of the city's Parks and Recreation Board and the Flags and Flowers project, presented the proposal to the City Council at a meeting Tuesday night.

According to Coles, the sidewalk would start at Lumbermens and stretch south along U.S. Highway 101 to downtown.

The council, while interested, reminded Coles that a similar project suggested several years ago would have cost $200,000, and would undoubtedly cost even more now.

Coles wasn't dissuaded however, reminding the councilors that the Flags and Flowers project isn't limited to merely cosmetic changes along the highway.

“During the summer months, we get an awful lot of tour companies who stop at the Red Lion, and they would love to have something to do in the evenings,” Coles said. “Sometimes they go to The Mill, but some would like to go downtown, and they do walk, but we just feel it's pretty dangerous.”

There was little disagreement from councilors, but the logistics and costs of putting a sidewalk along a narrow and busy section of highway, and through a retaining wall, caused some concern.

“I'm for putting in a sidewalk there, especially with putting in the Coos Historical and Maritime Museum down there,” said Councilman Jon Eck. “But logistically speaking, there may be some issues with putting it in there - because of that retaining wall across the road from the Timber Inn property.”

According to Coles, the previous plans for the project had the sidewalk going up over the hill beside Timber Inn, and back down again.

Due to state regulations regarding accessibility, City Manager Scott McClure said the city would probably have to cut into the hillside and install a new retaining wall, in order for the sidewalk to reach downtown.

“Chris' points are well taken, and that is a choke point there for pedestrians, with all the traffic, and getting people downtown from there is a good idea.” McClure said. “It could be a benefit, but we'll have to look into it, and find out all the technical issues.”

Either plan could cost a pretty penny, McClure said.

Local involvement

Mayor Joe Benetti said he was interested in finding grants to help pay for the project, and getting some involvement from the Red Lion Hotel and Lumbermens for the sidewalk that runs in front of the businesses.

“I was hoping if we did this we could cooperate with the property owners and make a nice walkway to downtown,” Benetti said. “But I think it's a good idea, and I think it's something we should do.”

Both Red Lion Hotel and Lumbermens management said that any involvement in the project would have to be approved by the corporate office.

Even though few Lumbermens customers would benefit from the sidewalk directly, Assistant Manager Bob Wiedeman thought it would be a good idea.

“It would promote people walking down through there, but it's kind of nasty walking in the winter with the road spray,” he added.

Red Lion employees were more interested in the prospect of a sidewalk. According to Front Office Manager Melissa Hannah, tourists ask about walking to downtown at least once a day - year round.

“We get it all the time, on a daily basis, but a bit more frequently in the summer,” Hanna said. “People like to walk in the evenings, go downtown and explore the area.”

As it stands now there isn't any sidewalk in front of Lumbermens, just a dirt path connecting several hotels and motels to downtown.

“You can cross over to the other side of the highway, but even that isn't very feasible,” Coles said. “It would be really nice to have a sidewalk joining that area to downtown.”

The council suggested Coles and the committee conduct further research to see what could be provided in the way of grants, business involvement and what would be required logistically speaking.

Funding the project might not require significant grants however, as according to McClure, the proposed sidewalk location falls within the city's Urban Renewal district and could qualify for urban renewal funds.

Though the Oregon Department of Transportation has not been contacted or informed of the proposal, they would need to be involved in the project.

“I think ODOT may also have some grants for safety projects like this,” McClure said.