TRUCKEE, Calif. — The downtown Trout Creek Pocket Park is steadily moving closer to realization.

Since 2007, Mountain Area Preservation has spearheaded the project. The group aims to submit final design plans later this month to the town of Truckee’s building department, said Executive Director Alexis Ollar.

“Our hope (is) to restore an underutilized part of historic downtown and create a green/public gathering place for tourists and locals alike to meet and enjoy the Trout Creek environment,” she said.

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Features for the less-than-1,000-square-foot park at the corner of Jibboom and Bridge streets include benches, tables, bike racks, interpretive kiosks on Trout Creek historical and environmental information, and space for changeable public art displays.

Under the Sustainable Sites Initiative, the park would have a level patio of permeable paving to help with snow load, a creekside berm to mitigate runoff, plantings for shade, and solar lighting.

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The initiative follows voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices.

In 2014, MAP will launch a capital campaign to raise $200,000 —$150,000 for construction and $50,000 for maintenance — which is expected to take 2 to 3 years, Ollar said.

Construction will likely occur in spring or summer 2016, she said. MAP, the town and Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District would partner to maintain the site.

“We are ecstatic that the project will come to fruition in the next few years and be an asset for the local community and the environment in downtown,” Ollar said.

Supporting groups include the Truckee River Watershed Council, Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe, Truckee Public Arts Commission, Truckee Trails Foundation, Truckee Donner Public Utility District and Truckee Downtown Merchants Association.

Formerly the Mountain Area Preservation Foundation, MAP is a grassroots nonprofit aimed at preserving the Truckee region’s community character and natural environment for present and future generations. Learn more at http://www.mapf.org.