Despite temperatures that soared past 100 degrees, construction crews worked hard this week to help K Street get its groove back.

Sacramento Regional Transit supervisors have been on-site daily to inspect, while crews selected by general contractor Otto Construction dug trenches and laid electrical conduit for a new light rail stop and handicapped-accessible "mini-high" platform on Seventh Street.

The roughly $4.5 million first phase of the K Street makeover includes a facelift for St. Rose of Lima Park, a light rail platform relocation and a streetscape renovation for the 700 block of K Street Mall. The city and Sacramento Regional Transit are partnering on the project. The long-term goal is to renovate K Street up to 12th Street.

City officials want to cultivate the mall's aesthetics and ambiance. They also want to more easily connect the area's struggling retail mall, Westfield Downtown Plaza, with the convention center and points in between.

"The streetscape is kind of the first step in revitalizing K Street," said Denise Malvetti, a city senior project manager who is overseeing the first phase project. "We're trying to enhance the pedestrian experience. We're hoping to make it look more inviting and pleasant."

Portland-based Walker Macy is the design firm on the project. Most of the funding for the first phase comes from tax increment financing, which uses expected future increases in tax revenue to fund current projects. Park funds are also being used, she said.

Since starting work on the project in early May, crews have excavated St. Rose of Lima Park and built trenches for electrical and irrigation equipment there. They've also poured new curbs and gutters on Seventh Street.

On the south side of K Street, they've opened hollow sidewalks that reach down to the city's original ground level. The streets of Sacramento flooded so much in the 1800s that many streets of the old city's downtown were eventually raised as much as 12 feet. Crews are now cleaning and shoring up the hollow sidewalks, said Malvetti.

Crews also have removed concrete and done excavating work in St. Rose of Lima Park, which was named for the first person in the Americas to be designated a saint by the Catholic church.

The park's layout will remain the same. The centerpiece will be a new water feature for people to play in during scorching Sacramento summers or just relax near during lunch. In the winter, the interactive, in-ground fountain will be covered by the ice skating rink. A new restaurant with outdoor dining is expected to replace Three Monkeys on the east side of the park.

Next week, a new underground vault for the park is expected to arrive. Otto Construction is expected to continue excavation to install the vault, which will store fountain equipment. These and other improvements are hoped to make the park -- and the mall -- more of a "destination" for residents, downtown workers and visitors, Malvetti said.

Recently, city officials and developers also have been talking about another idea to bring more people to K Street Mall: reopening the mall to cars.

The St. Rose of Lima light rail stop and handicapped-accessible platform ramp will be moved from the 700 block of K Street to Seventh Street to open up that section of K Street, making it easier to walk there and creating more of a plaza feel. The existing stop/platform will continue to operate until the new one opens.

The streetscape will be upgraded with more trees, greenery and flowerpots; matching black "street furniture" including benches, light posts, bike posts and trash containers; colored concrete paving stones or pavers. Any unhealthy trees may be removed and tree beds will be enlarged to hold landscaping.

The park is expected to be finished in November in time for the holidays. Construction on the south side of K Street will continue into December, said Malvetti.

City officials and staff are currently seeking funds to renovate other sections of the mall. No other phases are funded or planned yet. This first phase is expected to be the most expensive due to the park rehab and light rail relocation, she said.

"We're really excited to have Seventh Street under construction," Malvetti said.

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. She can be reached at suzanne@sacramentopress.com or by calling 916-804-2856.