Plans to transform Covina's downtown start with community planning meeting Thursday

By Maria Ines Zamudio, Staff Writer
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Posted: 05/11/2010 04:08:15 PM PDT

Covina residents are being asked to re-imagine downtown.

Should there be more stores? Open space? A museum? Or should the city do more to preserve historical sites?

The city is starting a redevelopment project called Heritage Plaza Park and Covina's Director of Redevelopment Robert Neiuber wants to hear residents' ideas.

Residents will have a chance to look at the project's blueprint and offer feedback during a community meeting Thursday night at the Covina Public Library.

"(Resident feedback) only helps the project to get better," Neiuber said. "We want to make sure we are addressing the public's concerns because, at the end, downtown is for the public to use."

If you go

What: Community Planning meeting for Heritage Plaza

When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Covina Public Library, 234 N. Second Ave.

Heritage Plaza is the proposed redevelopment project for the current Civic Center Park, located at Citrus Avenue and San Bernardino Road.

The project includes building a small playground area, an open grass area, additional seating, permanent bathrooms, a marquee, performance area, additional landscaping to help accommodate for downtown events and the weekly farmers market, Neiuber said.

The redevelopment project will also include markers outlining the history of Covina, he said.

The project is expected to cost about $800,000, which will be funded by donations, grants and Redevelopment Project Area 2 Public Purpose Bond Money, Neiuber said.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation also donated $63,000 to this project.

This project is part of the redevelopment agency's five-year implementation plan, which was adopted last year.

The goal of the project is to enhance parks and recreation, library services and become an environmentally sustainable community.

maria.zamudio@sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2108