Bend looks to improve S. Mirror Pond parking lot

(Update: Contract approved for finished design)

The Bend City Council took a big step toward improving a heavily used downtown parking lot during Wednesday night’s council meeting.

The city has been looking to make improvements to the South Mirror Pond Lot since the summer of 2016.

The council unanimously authorized a contract with Harper Houf Peterson Righellis for planning and design consulting work costing about $134,000.

The redesign could include better dumpster enclosure security, a communal bike area and bigger aisles and spaces.

Josh Moore drives a larger Toyota Tundra. He weighed in with NewsChannel 21 about what he would change.

“Maybe make the spaces a foot wider,” Moore said. “Because I do have to be careful getting out of my truck and not dinging somebody’s car.”

Among the planned improvements: wider drive aisles and parking stalls, with room for oversized vehicles and community bike-sharing rentals (Zagster).

The designers also will review of ADA access, meet minimum landscape requirements and make other improvements to improve circulation. A western barrier fence will separate the parking lot from Drake Park.

The garbage enclosures will be more secure, while the signs for paid parking will be revised and corrected.

Now that the contract is agreed, the public will be able to weigh in soon.

“In the next few months, once we zero in on a concept,” said Eric Forster, a principal engineer. “Then we can actually apply those elements of that concept to a real design, and we’ll be able to see more and share that,” said Eric Forster, a principal engineer.

The city is also currently looking at how they’ll make the changes without hindering parking during the many busy events that take place downtown.