New London — Designers are working to finalize a design to transform the municipal parking lots off Eugene O’Neill Drive from a slab of pavement into a more pedestrian-friendly and welcoming area.

The city hired New London-based Stadia Engineering Associates Inc. who have enlisted Mystic-based landscape architectural firm Kent + Frost to come up with the preliminary plans.

They have been working to incorporate ideas suggested by the public and businesses owners.

The most recent meeting was held Tuesday with members of the City Center District.

Public Works Director Brian Sear said he expecst the project to be completed for about $3 million — the combination of the $500,000 grant obtained by the Office of Development and Planning through the state Main Street Investment Fund and another $1.2 million already set aside by the city for paving work.

Sear called the work to complete a final design a “balancing act” between aesthetics and functionality.

While the lots now offer about 240 parking spots, Sear said that number will need to be trimmed to between 195 and 200 to meet state codes on the width of parking spaces and also to allow easy access for plows and emergency vehicles.

The parking lot will eventually include better pedestrian access, plantings of some sort, better lighting and “traffic calming features,” to slow vehicles on Eugene O’Neil Drive.

The planting of trees versus planters is just one of the features being debated.

The plan may at some point include elements of the downtown area, perhaps by replicating the lighting and plantings there, Sear said.

“It’s going to be a much more welcoming, better lit, pedestrian-friendly area ... with greater access of the storefronts,” Sear said.

Eugene O’Neill Drive, between Golden Street and Tilley Street, will be redesigned so it “feels less like a freeway,” he said. 

Part of the plan will include relocation of some existing utility poles in the parking lots.

Officials said they would like to see the work start by the spring. Plans would need to go through the planning and zoning commission before the work is put out to bid.

Downtown business owner Charlotte Hennegan, vice president of the City Center District, said the vision of fixing the parking lot has been on the radar screen for 20 years.

“From our side of the fence, we want to be assured we keep as many of the parking spaces as possible,” she said. “That’s what we need.”

Whether or not the parking lots will contain parking meters will depend on the new citywide parking policy being developed by the Parking Authority and the Office of Development and Planning.

g.smith@theday.com

Twitter: @SmittyDay