10/15/04

Town Receives $200,000 Grant for Downtown Streetscape Project
Project Includes Sidewalks, Benches, Decorative Streetlights and More Along Main Street

Wide, brick sidewalks that connect neighborhoods to businesses, the future library and cultural center, and churches on both sides of the street; comfortable benches that provide resting places amid eye-catching landscaping; decorative streetlights and signage that provide identity – all these additions and more will soon create a more attractive, pedestrian-friendly downtown Holly Springs, thanks in part to a grant from the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

The Holly Springs Engineering Department recently was awarded a $200,000 Enhancement Grant for a downtown streetscape project that will result in aesthetic improvements in addition to sidewalks that will run along both sides of Main Street from Avent Ferry Road/Center Street south to Raleigh Street. The Holly Springs downtown streetscape project joins other 2004 NCDOT Enhancement Grant winners, including sidewalk projects for Nags Head, NC, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

“We’re very excited to receive the grant,” said Kendra Stephenson, Holly Springs Engineering Department senior engineer. “The streetscape project will give downtown Holly Springs a more traditional look.”

In past years, Holly Springs had applied for the Enhancement Grant for the entire downtown streetscape project, which would reshape pedestrian access along Main Street from Holly Springs Road to Elm Street. When the Town was not awarded the grant for the entire $1 million project, the Town broke the project into phases, which begin at the center of downtown and work out. Construction on this first phase is slated to begin in 2005. The Town will provide $50,000 in addition to the grant money for the project. Later phases will begin as funds become available, and the Town will continue to seek grants to fund this and other roadway and sidewalk projects.

In addition to decorative sidewalks, streetlights and signage on both sides of Main Street, utility relocation, landscaping, some curb and gutter replacements, bicycle racks and trash receptacles are also included in the downtown streetscape project.

“This project is another step in the right direction toward connecting the downtown area and businesses to the community,” Stephenson said. “The project will certainly entice pedestrians to the downtown area.”

Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us