Batesville residents press council for parking pads as Main Street Greenway work nears October completion

Residents along Batesville’s Main Street urged the City Council on Monday to add off-street parking pads for three homes after construction of the Main Street Greenway has restricted curbside parking and complicated deliveries and emergency access.

"We've always lived in Batesville, and we've supported it," resident Betty Barnett told the council, citing lost package deliveries and limited access for guests and service vehicles. She asked the council to consider "parking pads in front of all 3 houses, just like they did in front of the house on 737," saying such pads could let delivery and emergency vehicles pull out of the single-lane traffic and reduce blockages.

Parks Director Jeff Owens updated the council on the project’s progress, saying crews have made significant headway despite recent weather delays and that the contractor and engineer expect a completion timeframe in October. "They're still looking at a completion time in October," Owens said, and staff are meeting biweekly with the contractor to keep the project on schedule.

Council members asked technical questions about driveway and curb geometry and how the project would affect existing access. Owens said the team considered factors such as limited off-street access for some homes and driveway widths when permitting certain parking pads: "…it was determined to allow them to have that parking space," he said, describing evaluations for properties that have no other access.

The council discussed next steps. Staff said they will obtain designs and cost estimates for parking pads and check whether any change orders would require state approval because the project is state-funded. Owens said one of the grant coordinators estimated ARDOT review and resident engineering steps would take "2 to 4 weeks" to begin, with hope for completion within a month. Mayor Rick Eillebaugh said staff would review costs and, if feasible, bring the matter back to the council for a budget decision.

Council members also raised safety questions about emergency vehicle access. A council member asked whether parking pads would accommodate fire trucks; staff replied that emergency responders would use curbing and platforms if needed, and that curb geometry would be addressed before final surfacing.

The council did not approve a construction change at the meeting. Staff said the city will maintain the greenway after completion and install landscaping and benches, and that officials will return with more detailed pricing and a proposed budget if needed. The council asked residents to continue communicating hardships so staff can factor them into final design and maintenance planning.