Fall 2001
PROJECTS: Gridley Vision Takes Off
 The
City of Gridley is trying to utilize its wonderful assets: a historic,
pedestrian-oriented downtown, the appeal of the area’s wetlands,
the migrating waterfowl, and the entrepreneurial spirit of its residents.
To release Gridley’s potential, city leaders are reaching out
to the public to create a vision for the revitalization of the City.
Ideas are already popping up. As the gateway to
Gridley, State Route 99 is not providing the welcome mat that the
city would like "We want people to slow down, get off 99 and
see what a great downtown we have," said Gridley City Planner
Andrea Redamonti. "Unfortunately, the mass of telephone and
electric poles and several deteriorating structures make most people
speed up just to get on through."
 Much
of the corridor area is without sidewalks and bicycle lanes, resulting
in an unsafe environment for any non-motorized
vehicle travel and frustrating efforts to market the downtown as
a pedestrian-oriented, shopping destination. Expansion of a five
lane passing zone south of town has elicited concern that further
widening projects will inevitably speedup traffic through the entire
corridor, exacerbating the situation.
The City has secured a Caltrans Community Based
Transportation Planning Grant to develop a streetscape design that
will guide future improvements along the Highway 99 corridor. With
intensive input from the public, the City hopes to create a comprehensive
design that strengthens the function and visual appeal of highway
frontage that enhances pedestrians and non-automotive access: bringing
more retail dollars into Gridley.
Building on the City’s existing relationship with the Gray
Lodge Wildlife Refuge, Gridley is also actively exploring the development
of the Pacific Fly-Way Interpretive Center/Museum. The museum would
take advantage of Gridley’s location along the Pacific Flyway
and act for a gathering place for organizations such as the California
Waterfowl Association and Ducks
Unlimited and could act as an educational and research
center on waterfowl species and migratory routes, wetlands, and
conservation efforts. The Highway 99 plan would also incorporate
the Pacific Flyaway Interpretive Center design proposal. Gridley
has also secured a consulting firm to analyze the viability of establishing
a redevelopment area.
For more information: Andrea Redamonti, Gridley
City Planner, (530) 846-3631, gridleyplan@gridley.ca.us.
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