MOSCOW — The Moscow City Council approved the funding for a full design of the new East City Park stage on Monday.
Design West Architects was selected to complete the full design for $72,700. The Pullman-based architecture firm had already been selected last year to put together 30% of the design.
Based on the early design, the 1,200-square-foot covered stage would be attached to the park’s restroom and include an electrical and mechanical rooms, as well as storage space.
David Schott, Moscow parks and facilities manager, said the designers still need to figure out how the stage will connect to the park’s pathways.
The design is expected to be completed in spring 2026. The project’s bid will go before the council in May. If the bid is accepted, construction is expected to begin in September after the park’s major events are finished.
The existing stage deteriorated to the point that it was no longer safe and had to be dismantled in 2024.
City Councilor Drew Davis, who works at another architecture firm, recused himself from the vote.
The Moscow City Council also approved new regulations for public events that take place on the city’s downtown streets. Moscow’s downtown center is the site of several city and private events throughout the year that require streets to be temporarily closed.
Members of the business community requested that the city prohibit events from closing downtown streets between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This would not apply to events conducted by the city of Moscow or on behalf of the city. It would also not apply to events that take place on federal holidays.
The new policy was requested by the Moscow Chamber of Commerce + Visitor Center and the Downtown Business Alliance, which say that downtown events can deter customers from businesses and take away valuable parking.
The council also approved another change to downtown Monday. The city has entered into an agreement with New Saint Andrews College to build an easement on the college’s 112 N Main Street building. The easement will provide access from the U.S. Highway 95 side of the lot.
The easement will cut across the triangular parking lot on the side of the building.
NSA will pay a $1,200 yearly lease to the city. The college will maintain the part of the parking closest to the building. The city will maintain the other side of the lot and likely add landscaping. Moscow City Administrator Bill Belknap said it could also be a site for public art.
Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.