Submitted by SCJ Alliance
It’s happened again. Wilkeson’s Rural Town Center Corridor Plan was held up for recognition and as an example of a job well done.
The award for Excellence in Planning for Small Communities was presented by the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA). SCJ Alliance Principal Eric Johnston, PE, the project lead for the corridor plan, was on hand at the APA’s annual meeting in October to receive the award.
Earlier this summer, WA Governor Jay Inslee bestowed a 2013 Smart Communities Award to Wilkeson for its corridor planning efforts and praised the community for its smart growth planning and contributing to our State’s quality of life.
Exceptional public outreach, partnerships with other government agencies (like the National Park Service), and stretching funding dollars to get the biggest bang for the buck, were all noted during the APA’s award presentation. The group also recognized the importance of Wilkeson’s infrastructure improvements to economic development and the community’s quality of life.
“We love working with this small, visionary community and helping them bridge their historic past and traditions, with future success,” shared Johnston. “It’s been very rewarding.”
SCJ now has the pleasure of helping Wilkeson implement its plan, which is composed of six distinct elements which can be completed independently and in any order. SCJ is designing the Foothills Trail extension element, which enhances Wilkeson’s role as a gateway to many recreational areas.
“We are working with the community to design a trail extension through the Town Center that is consistent with the heritage elements displayed throughout the town while providing definition and separation between pedestrians, parking and the highway,said SCJ’s Scott Sawyer, the project lead for the trail design. “The design will also enhance accessibility to businesses and public spaces.”
The design for Wilkeson’s Foothills Trail extension is expected to be completed in the spring of 2014, with construction beginning in 2015.
