WATSONVILLE — Work got underway Tuesday in Watsonville’s City Plaza to remove long-standing vegetation near the center gazebo to make way for a new stage.
A crew from the City’s Parks and Community Services department used heavy equipment to scrape away planting and smooth the soil for a level spot to house the stage.
Ben Heistein, Assistant Director for Parks and Community Services, said some underground electrical components still had to be reconfigured.
Next, they will install a layer of decomposed granite, which will serve as a hard surface for the new stage.
“We’re looking at eventually adding some columns and lights,” he said. “More permanent structure will come down the road.”
The project is consistent with the City’s recently approved preferred concept plan for the Plaza. Heistein said the crew is aiming for completion by next Thursday to allow live musical acts to perform atop the stage during the Music in the Plaza concert series.
He added that there will be some minor touch-up work beyond the completion.
The City is still looking into grants for future plans to further revitalize the Plaza. City staff will soon submit the preferred concept plan to state officials to see if they qualify for the first round of funding from Prop 68, a voter-approved $4.1 billion bond measure.
The deadline for the first round of funding is in early August.
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Managing Editor Tony Nuñez contributed to this report.
