Remodeling Changes I Would Make To Yakima – Riggs’ Top Five

It's always fun to confuse those who have never been to Yakima to say "Take the Naches" exit as that road can dump you off on 16th and 40th. Now that Yakima has expanded leaps and bounds since they build that road, it's high time we have a 72nd exit as well. Business and residents seem to keep heading west towards West Valley so it'd be nice if it was a little more convenient to go straight to that side of town without having to take 40th and then drive through town the rest of the way. Yeah, you'll have to cut down some trees and build a road that reaches all the way across, but if money wasn't an object it could be done.

I love Albertson's, I'm there almost every day for something or another. The only thing that bugs me about it is when you're trying to enter on 40th, but that have that pedestrian crossing right near the entrance so you risk either hitting a shopper or stopping in the middle of traffic and have a chance of getting hit yourself. They could avoid this by repositioning the store in the back corner of the lot.

Why should Tri-Cities have all the fun? I used to live in Tri-Cities for about 2 years and I loved the Columbia river. Nice and peaceful, great scenery, great landscape. The Mid-Columbia boat races come through every year bringing a TON of toursim dollars to that area. If I could dig a man-made river from around Biggs junction up through Goldendale, Toppenish, Wapato and through Yakima that would be awesome. Maybe make it a little wider past Terrace Heights where there's nothing but hills for a nice relaxation spot, I'd be okay with that.

Think of the most boring thing you've ever done and I can almost guarantee the drive on I-82 between Yakima and Ellensburg is more boring than that. Whenever I can I take the Canyon Road, but that takes a few extra minutes, especially when you're traveling behind a pack of bicyclers which seems to happen to me more often than not. If there was a way we could build a super highway between Selah and Ellensburg that cuts through the boring, rolling desert that surrounds us, I think it's be well worth it.

Here's what I love about Memorial Hospital - Everything except for the parking. Here's what I don't like about Memorial Hospital - The Parking! You've been there before, too, I know it. There's extremely limited parking up front at the hospital, even for trips to the ER. Since our hospital hasn't adopted a valet parking system yet (yes, this does exist in other cities) it's time they pick up and relocate the entire hospital back one block. There are a few houses back there and would feel bad that they'd have to move, but, again, if I had the money, relocate them anywhere else and use the area where the hospital is now to give plenty of parking for trips to the emergency room, visitors and more. Once it took me a solid 15 minutes to find parking when I needed to get my 3 year old to the ER. Fortunately, it wasn't a life for death situation, but I have a lot of love - just I'd love to see more parking.