Eaton, Colorado’s main street had maintained the same look for several years. The sidewalks were thin, there were no trees, the parking spaces were cramped, and there was nothing to signify the history or area of downtown Eaton. However, construction has recently been finished on 1st Street, and it has given downtown a much more lively feel.
According to the Downtown Revitalization Plan, in the mid-1900s, Eaton was a mostly self-sufficient town. There were places to buy groceries, jewelry, clothes, furniture, farm equipment, gas, and basically anything else you could think of. There were also doctors, dentists, police, and firemen so that the health and safety of the people were prioritized while in town. There were many places to send letters, pay bills, get newspapers, and get insurance within the town as well. But, with the growing population that boomed in the early 2000s, the town’s businesses and streets had to grow as well. 1st Street couldn’t keep up and turned out to seem a little outdated and small by that time.
The plan states that the Eaton Revitalization Committee was formed in 2018, and came together in 2020 to discuss and suggest changes to the downtown area. They held meetings and invited the community to get involved in the planning process. They found that many wanted to see more flowers, trees, and other plants to give the street a prettier look. Many also wanted to see the sidewalks leveled and widened, as well as benches put along the road. Some had questions about whether or not this project would increase town taxes, but Ally Heid (29), the daughter of Mayor Pro-Tem Liz Heid, spoke on the issue. She said, “One of the biggest misconceptions is that it cost a lot of money to the taxpayers, but really the town utilized grants to offset the cost.”
The plan included some short-term projects that have already been completed, while other long-term projects will be finished in the near future. The things that have been done already are the widening of the sidewalks, putting in new lighting, getting planters with flowers, planting trees, building outdoor seating areas, and putting in signs to show when Eaton was founded and where Downtown Eaton begins. Aya Kinoshita (26), daughter of Brittany Kinoshita, the HANA flower shop owner in downtown Eaton, said, “I really like the hanging lights and the big flower pots. I think it brings an aesthetic feeling that leads you into wanting to hang out there and walk around.” Still to come are more alleys to connect more streets, more lighting and banners, building improvements, more signage, and division of the streetscape. These changes have received a lot of positive feedback.
However, some have made comments on how much it affects their daily lives, since the construction workers have had various places blocked off while working. Though necessary for the new look, it affected many people who work on 1st Street. Addyson Manning (27) shared about the troubles her mom, Sarah Manning, went through since she works at Pure Skin and Co. in the downtown area. She said, “She couldn’t park in the back where she would have to go in; she had to park in a completely different area and then walk.” This had to be done for safety reasons, though it did cause inconvenience for employees and owners of small businesses. But, like A. Manning said, “It’s worth it because I think it’s gonna look great.”
Needless to say, the town has big plans, and hopes that by updating everything on 1st Street, the area will be revitalized and will attract citizens to gather.
