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ASHLAND PLAZA RESTORATION PROJECT Ashland grassroots group finds way not paved to remake Plaza Donations near $10K mark and a nonprofit agrees to channel funds, but Plaza changes would need city approval that's not likely Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jul. 24, 2015 at 7:28 PM Updated Jul 24, 2015 at 8:51 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jul. 24, 2015 at 7:28 PM Updated Jul 24, 2015 at 8:51 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Guest Opinion: Restoring the Plaza's sense of place • Should the Plaza get yet another makeover? • Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over • Perking up the Ashland Plaza » Social News The citizens group Ashland Plaza Restoration Project has found a way to turn pledges into money by channeling it through the nonprofit Ashland Arts Center — but it still has not found a way to impose its vision on City Hall. The Arts Center board recently voted to use its 501(c)(3) status to facilitate tax-deductible donations and forward them to the city. The city welcomes any donations to its coffers, says city Administrator Dave Kanner — but that doesn’t mean donors get to tell the city how to change the Plaza. “The city is happy to accept donations from anyone,” said Kanner, “but it would remain the decision of the City Council, using the budget process, about what to do in the Plaza. The council already approved what the (Downtown Improvement and) Beautification Committee recommended and it was carried out.” In voting to be a conduit for donors, the Art Center board made it conditional on the city agreeing to work with the Restoration Project, said AAC Executive Director Denise Baxter. “The city has not agreed to work with the group,” she says. “We won’t take any money unless that happens.” “The only way this is going to happen,” said David Sherr of the Restoration Project, “is to work cooperatively with people, and with our city, to restore and beautify our Plaza.” The project has raised $9,250 in pledges so far, he said. It has 1,714 “likes” on its Ashland Plaza Restoration Project Facebook page. The group, he adds, has found a means to color the gray pavers, often derided for being drab, for $2,100. (This paragraph has been changed to correct the name of the Facebook page and its number of "likes."") Any partnership would be between the Downtown Beautification Committee and the Ashland Plaza Restoration Project, and that is not forthcoming, said Kerry Kincairn, former chairwoman of the officially appointed Downtown group. “There is no official process for the city to receive funds from the Plaza Restoration group,” she said. City spokeswoman Ann Seltzer said the first step would have to be for the City Council to agree they’d accept the funds and “use this money to do what you (Restoration group) want to do … I don’t think that has any legs.” Kanner noted, “They (Restoration Project) can say what they want, but if the money is donated with strings attached, then the council would have to vote to accept those strings.” The city re-did the Plaza in 2013 with enlarged hardscape and concrete benches, in an effort to make it more suitable for public events, demonstrations and music. After much public input, they said extreme foot traffic made it hard for plants and young trees to survive as part of the old Plaza. Some trees were lost in the re-do. The Restoration Project group is calling for more colorful pavers, new trees, improved landscaping, hanging plants and maybe a stage, tables and benches. City Councilwoman Carol Voisin has supported the Restoration Project group’s vision, but last spring said “the votes aren’t there” for what the group wants. In response to the hubbub about the Plaza re-do, the city posted some frequently asked questions on its website at www.ashland.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=16534 . These trace the entire process so far and note that future plans include the Beautification Committee’s vision for “more resilient landscaping (in) the planting areas, (to) provide low fencing to keep pedestrians out of those areas, add a few free-standing planters and use different colored pavers in a specific area of the plaza. The color that would be used has not been selected.” John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jul. 24, 2015 at 7:28 PM Updated Jul 24, 2015 at 8:51 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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