Lewiston hears two concept options for Simard Payne Park in River Island master-plan update

City engineer Jeff Bullies and designers from View Shed presented two concept plans for the Simard Payne Park portion of the Riverfront/Island master-plan update at a Lewiston City Council workshop, asking the council for feedback and a one- to two-week comment window before a final design presentation in late March or early April.

The proposals aim to narrow a slate of future projects for capital planning and to guide Local Capital Improvement Program (LCIP) requests. View Shed showed Concept 1, described as a simplified plan with a targeted canal access stair at Oxford Street, a new pedestrian bridge from Oxford Street into Simard Payne, canal overlooks, a dining plaza near the red shop, an enlarged stage and accessible restrooms near an amphitheater, and an adventure playground adjacent to a picnic pavilion. Concept 2 keeps many of the same elements but repositions features: cantilevered canal overlooks, the memorial moved north to a more prominent place as people come in across the pedestrian bridge, a splash pad with a new…