Committee proposes Main Street Plaza upgrades; Promised Land statue siting recommended amid calls for more public input

Members of the Canton and Main Committee presented recommendations to the John Day City Council for a reworked town square that committee members said would better serve residents and visitors.

Councilor Chris Labhart, speaking on behalf of the committee, said the mission is to create a welcoming town square and emphasized that the materials presented were recommendations, not final designs. Committee speakers described several proposed improvements: renaming the “Pit Stop” to “Main Street Plaza,” upgrading parking curbs, adding seating and restroom improvements, and installing standardized rest area signage. Mr. LaMountain recommended adding security cameras; the presentation noted the Oregon Department of Transportation has granted permission for signage at the site.

Shannon Adair, who also spoke during the presentation, supported the statue project but opposed siting the Promised Land statue at the Main Street location and said additional public input is needed. The committee voted 4-3 in favor of recommending the Main Street site for the statue; the committee recommended that the City Council hold a public hearing and gather wider community feedback before deciding.

Mayor Sherrie Rininger said the council will seek public input and thanked the committee for its work. The council did not take formal action on the committee’s recommendations at the meeting.