Ocean Community Chamber wants to build ‘iconic’ structure on bridge

Idea is to help market and brand downtown Westerly-Pawcatuck

Stonington — Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Konicki outlined an idea for selectmen Wednesday night that calls for building a $500,000 structure on the Pawcatuck River Bridge to help market and brand the downtown Westerly-Pawcatuck community.

The idea comes on the heels of the widely praised Brick & Murals project this month, in which artists from around the world painted 14 historical-themed murals on the walls of downtown businesses.

Konicki told selectmen that the first step would be to paint a stripe on the bridge where the two towns and two states meet, giving people a chance to take selfies and post them on social media.

“But we have a grander vision we want to implement,” she said, telling selectmen the two communities are inextricably intertwined with their shared economy, culture and history.

While the two downtown areas have the same banner and flowerpots, something she said helps visitors know they are in the same downtown, they have no idea they are crossing into another state and town when going over the bridge.

“We’re looking for something iconic, artistic, a gateway that welcomes people to the heart of our downtown and helps people realize they have arrived somewhere special,” she told the selectmen.

As examples, she pointed to the arch on Federal Hill in Providence and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, iconic structures she said help brand a place.

“We think that downtown Pawcatuck-Westerly is no less deserving

than Sydney or Federal Hill,” she said, adding the structure would create a sense of synergy and harmony that would welcome people.

She estimated it would take four to seven years to plan, permit, fundraise and build the structure with Connecticut, Rhode Island and private donors splitting the cost in thirds.

She said two local architects have developed two preliminary designs, which she was not yet ready to share with the public. She said they have been shown to chamber board members, some local officials, a major local philanthropist and a person involved in downtown development to get their reaction. She said one design is traditional and looks like it was built 100 years ago, while the other is very modern. She said the chamber will continue to talk about possible designs.

First Selectman Rob Simmons likened the project to the Frog Bridge in Willimantic and the clock tower at Eastern Connecticut State University, agreeing such structures help brand places.

Simmons pointed out to Konicki “that the state of Connecticut is broke with no budget yet,” so state funding might be difficult to obtain. But he said the project could be done a bit at a time, starting with the stripe painting.

Selectwoman Kate Rotella said she was not ready to take any official action to endorse the project because she needs to hear more details. Selectmen, though, agreed to say they are excited about the idea and willing to further collaborate with the chamber.

Konicki said she would return to selectmen with more information.

“Exciting things are happing in Pawcatuck,” Simmons said.