Summerfest arch preservation eyed
Moves are being made to preserve the arches that criss-cross the entrance to Pelham Town Square.
Ward 2 Coun. Gary Accursi delivered a verbal report from the Pelham Summerfest committee on Monday, briefly outlining plans to upgrade the wooden arches installed in 2012 to provide shade and visual appeal for the festival’s beer garden.
The arches were meant to be a temporary installation, for relocation to town parks after the 2012 festival. The next year, however, they were made permanent and have become somewhat iconic to Fonthill’s downtown, according to Accursi.
“I would categorize it as an outstanding success,” said Accursi, who explained the Summerfest committee has been seeking a legacy project and has settled on preserving the arches, with a design from Bill Gibson and Bill Sheldon to clad the arches in powder-coated metal, with tracking for lights and wiring.
“It will almost be an industrial look,” said Accursi, who asked that staff be directed to seek quotations for the project so costs can be better estimated before the project moves forward.
Summerfest chair John Wink said the festival will contribute funding to the project, but how much depends on the costs.
“We’re willing to contribute a significant amount,” he said, adding that the expenditure will have to be balanced with maintaining the festival’s reserve pool of cash in case weather washes out the festival and guts revenues for a year.