After nearly a year of meetings and study, a downtown revitalization plan for Rock Island is finished. Tonight the city council will consider adopting the plan prepared with help from a consultant.
Jeff Eder, director of community and economic development, says one recommendation is to remove the Great River Plaza, on 2nd Avenue between 17th and 19th streets. That would improve traffic circulation in the area but still allow room for special events.
The consultant also recommends improvements for downtown parking to create more spaces and to make it more "friendly."
And that would include some modifications for the parking structure.
Recommendations also include more landscaping, benches, and better lighting, plus find ways to encourage private developers to build more housing.
The plan suggests adding parking to lst Avenue, and somehow making a better "connection" between downtown Rock Island and Schwiebert Riverfront Park.
