Members of the Dolgeville Village Board of Trustees Monday received a preview of a presentation that will be given to the public on Thursday concerning the Main Street enhancement project.
Brian P. Mandryck, a senior associate at Utica-based Lochner Engineering, and landscape architect Rick Talbot reviewed slides from their planned PowerPoint presentation, as well as drawings, to give the board members an idea as to what the improvements along Main Street and to Dolge, Helterline and Luther parks may include as part of the $1 million Transportation Enhancement Program project.
Thursday’s presentation will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held at the fire house on South Helmer Avenue.
The $1 million in federal Transportation Enhancement Program moneys was awarded to the village last year and will be used to fund such things as the pouring of new sidewalks, planting of new trees and installation of new street lights on Main Street between Cramer Lane and State Street.
In addition to addressing matters such as the design process and the components of the project, Mandryck said residents will have the opportunity to comment on such things as the use of pavers, stamped concrete or grass in the area between the curb and sidewalk at the presentation, as well as the use of an “imprint” surface similar to the one used in nearby Rome to distinguish crosswalks in the roadway.
“It is something that can be used to draw attention to the presence of a crosswalk and to slow traffic down,” Mandryck said of the imprint surface. When asked by Mayor Bruce Lyon as to how the surface near Fort Stanwix has held up to winter snowplowing, Mandryck said it has held up “quite well.”
Talbot said the portion of the presentation on the three village parks will incorporate the results of a 2003 vision plan and will present ideas that were built upon the plan’s findings.
“The goal is to best convey what the ideas for the spaces are and to come up with a consensus as to what the public wants to have done with the spaces, because once something is built it’s built,” he said.
Looking to build upon the highly visible location of Helterline Park, Talbot said he sees the park becoming a focal point on Main Street. Planned improvements, he said, could include the construction of a historical display, street clock, sculpture or planter to draw attention to the park.
Heavy traffic in the area and the narrowness of Elm Street ruled out the placement of a community billboard in Helterline Park, however, Lyon said the billboard may be moved to the municipal park’s lawn.
“Having a billboard at that intersection would make it difficult for motorists to see, but the idea of having a community sign or billboard is a good one,” he said. “That is something that could be constructed elsewhere along Main Street where it wouldn’t be a distraction to drivers.”
Talbot said an information kiosk could also be placed in the park. “It could be a place where people could stop and pick up a brochure on the history of Dolgeville and all that the village has to offer,” he said.
Seeing Luther Park as a people space and a good coffee break spot that has the potential to enlarge over the years, Talbot said improvements there could include the addition of lights, tables, planters or banners.
“A splash of color would signify that it is a park,” he said, adding that he liked the idea of placing parasol tables in the park, which were included as part of the 2003 vision plan.
Dolge Park improvements could include the addition of a pavilion, tot lot or coffee court. One of the improvements that Trustee Donna Loucks liked was the construction of fencing similar to that used in other parks so that Dolge Park would have a similar look and feel to the other public spaces in the village.
“Anything that can be done to make it more compatible with the other parks would be nice,” she said.
Talbot also said that Dolge Park could serve as a space where a community Christmas tree is erected.
“We want to make everything look as attractive as possible at the completion of this project,” he said.
Mandryck said residents who attend Thursday’s presentation will be asked to fill out comment cards as to what they liked or did not like about the concepts and drawings that were presented. Those comments, he said, will be used to create the final design plans that will be submitted for state approval.
Dolgeville, N.Y. —
