Another step has recently been made in the process of expanding Madison Park in the city of Washington.

The city council approved a resolution to close the 200 block portion of the east-west alley between South 2nd and 3rd avenues during their most recent meeting. This will connect the existing park on the corner of 2nd Avenue and East Madison Street with the Jones property to the north that was acquired by the city. Mayor Jaron Rosien told the council that he and City Administrator Brent Hinson contacted property owners along this alley which includes the school district, and they all had no issues with the project, “I’ve spoken with the tree committee and the park board on this extension. [I] did a walk through with Andy Dahl and Tim Egli and they were like school kids that were lit up, excited about opening the park like a book and making it mimic the other Madison Park. And as this project continues to move forward I’ll have more design information to share with [the] council, but it is being met with enthusiasm which is good because I like it too, it’s a nice project.”

Rosien says the next step is to convert the alley rock to grass. The meeting agenda originally listed a public hearing followed by an ordinance with three readings for the alley closure, though City Attorney Kevin Olson advised that a resolution was sufficient.