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Mishawaka Avenue Streetscape Beautification Plan – 2007/2008 Update City of South Bend Division of Community Development 21 ISLAND / MEDIAN ENHANCEMENTS Island / median enhancements were also included as part of the 2004 update plan but remain incomplete to date. As noted earlier, the committee felt that the favorable reaction to the decorative lighting gave credence to postponing work on the median enhancements to the next plan update process. The 2007 update would then be used to decide whether the proposed median enhancements would still be considered or postponed to a future update within the beautification process. The targeted area includes nine existing medians of varying sizes and conditions between Ironwood Drive and the Canadian National Railroad Bridge. At one time, the medians did include trees and plants; complete with an irrigation system but over time the plantings disappeared and infrastructure declined. The current medians are extremely underutilized, some nothing more than a flat strip of lawn without curbs or plantings. The committee’s proposed improvement would essentially include a rebuilding of the median more or less within the existing footprint but there is a potential to add new medians on the western end, near the CN railroad bridge. The curb would be reconstructed so it met the City of South Bend standard exposure above the road surface. However, in lieu of replacing the previous sprinkler system, native plantings would be used. The committee agreed that keeping inline with the global “go green” initiative, using native planting and negating the need for a sprinkling system not only would cut costs but reduce the burden on the local ecosystem. The question of regular maintenance is once again a priority issue Target Date – 2011-2012 Funding Request -- $220,000 Location/Scope: 9 medians between Ironwood & RR Bridge Intersections Improvement Sector: West & Far WestPhoto 17: Existing median between Ironwood Dr. and Twyckenham Dr.Photo 18: Existing median between Twyckenham Dr. and CN RR Bridge