Streetscape Project Continues Across Downtown
By Robin Vinci | Editor at July 3, 2024 | 9:00 am | Print
City Buys New 40 Foot Artificial Pre-Lit Christmas Tree
Residents have been noticing trees being removed from Central Park, but many do not understand that this is just the beginning of the transformation of downtown.
“There is a lack of information about the trees,” said Mayor Erin Stewart. “I look at it everyday and I know the construction is going to change things.”
The Central Park Project is just the beginning of one phase of the streetscape master plan. It has started at the corner of Liberty Pizza and it is going down to TD Bank. There will be brick pavers similar to what is across the street at the police station on the sidewalks.
“Central Park gets redone simultaneously with that, but it’s not done after that,” said Stewart. “We are making Court Street a two way street. We are squaring off that intersection in front of TD Bank and there will be a lot of traffic changes so there is a better flow.”
The flow will prevent a bottleneck in front of Sir Speedy and people will be able to get out of the bank easier.
Central Park will extend further and will open up like a rectangle instead of a triangle as it is now.
“We will have sidewalks on either side so people can walk around it,” said Stewart. “People are now on Main Street are walking in the middle of the road.”
Sidewalks will go as far as the CT Fastrak station. Sidewalks will also go down West Main Street to the New Britain Public Library.
“It is a much larger project than just Central Park,” said Stewart.
A portable ice rink will be available to put in the park if the City chooses.
Also, a new Christmas tree has been purchased.
“It is a big huge artificial pre-lit tree. It came in under $40,000,” said Stewart. “It’s 40 feet tall. We will take it apart and store it and have it smack in the middle of the park.”
There will be multi-colored lights and a gold star has been purchased for the top.
“They will build a part in the park that we can open up and stick the tree into the top of it,” said Stewart. “It will have a base so branches don’t start at ground level. It will be different, but it will be very nice. It is change, but sometimes change is a good thing.”
The tree has not been named as of yet.
Previously the City put lights on the Guida Family Christmas tree. That had to be taken down as the tree was dying and could not be saved.
The Central Park part of the project is expected to be completed in late fall of this year.
Next year there will be the food trucks around the park.
“We are getting rid of half of the parking. Everything on the left side will be parallel parking and that is where the food trucks will be,” said Stewart. “It encourages people to come downtown. We have plenty of spaces in our parking garage. Having food trucks gives us more options for those who work downtown. I want a better downtown with more options. Competition is good.”
The City has already had interest from a Hartford restaurant who wants to bring a food cart downtown.
“First we need to change some city ordinances and then it will be ready to go next year,” said Stewart.
