Citifyin'

The downtown area of El Cajon will continue its transformation with the approval of the Prescott Promenade project plans by the El Cajon City Council during their January 12 meeting.

The promenade is a small downtown park located on Main Street between Magnolia and Claydelle avenues that hosts outdoor events. Since 2008, the City of El Cajon has added new landscaping, streetlights, additional crosswalks, and sidewalks to the downtown area as part of the Main Street and Magnolia Corridor Improvement project.

The promenade improvements will feature energy-efficient lighting, a new high-efficiency irrigation system, new benches, low-water turf grass, shrubs, trees, traffic signal work and streetlights. A large canvas sail will be installed over a new stage area with a flat concrete space for portable stages.

The project is estimated to cost $1.6 million, which will be paid with City of El Cajon Redevelopment Agency funds. The City announced that no general funds will be used for the project. Construction is anticipated to begin in April, and completion is expected by June 2010.

When completed in 2011, the $40-million, five-story Public Safety Center next to City Hall will provide another significant landmark to the downtown area.