Walawala Plaza opens today (Friday)
By Terry Murry on Friday, May 5th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – The intersection of First Avenue and Main Street and the Walawala Plaza opens at approximately 1 p.m. today (Friday). A grand opening ceremony for the plaza is being planned for June. It will include community partners and representatives from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
The city of Walla Walla rebuilt the intersection to address persistent settling issues. It features a new paver surface, reconstructed crosswalks, and new signal components. Walawala Plaza has a paver surface that is flush with the sidewalks. It is anchored by water features at the ends. Shade structures, new trees and landscape areas have also been added.
Walla Walla worked with Tamastslikt Cultural Institute to incorporate into the design elements that represent the plaza as a historic meeting place for the Cayuse and Walla Walla people. Curved, stamped concrete reflects Mill Creek and signifies the trail crossing and gathering place of the Walla Walla and Cayuse. The balsam root sunflower of inlaid bronze acknowledges that the local Cayuse band is known as sunflower people.
Most of the funds for the project came from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Restored parking on the south end of South First Avenue, including ADA accessible spaces, will be completed in the coming weeks.
