Square’s walkability to get boost

Sidewalks set for perimeter of the green along Main, East Park streets

Chardon City leaders are continuing their quest to improve “walkability” uptown.

City Council recently awarded a sidewalk project for the town square. Walks will be built on the perimeter of the green along Main and East Park streets.

The work, by Daniel Terreri & Sons Inc. of Youngstown, is scheduled to begin Oct. 8. Terreri will be paid $178,800, the lowest of four bids received and about $8,700 below the engineer’s estimate.

Businesses will be notified about the construction. The project is anticipated to cause minor disruption for square visitors.

“The contractor has been asked to start on the north end of the square and work toward the south, mostly because of Fall Fest coming and then the Halloween trick-or-treating,” City Manager

Randy Sharpe said.

“We also asked that he create a rolling zone of construction work to only take as few parking spots out as necessary to protect the staff there and to get the job done in a safe manner, but (also) not to block off the entire side of the park at one time so that we can keep as many open for the businesses as we possibly can.”

The work — along the east and west sides of the square — is to be complete by the end of October.

“This is a very important improvement and is needed for pedestrian safety,” said Public Service Director Paul Hornyak. “Visitors to the uptown area who park

adjacent to the square are forced to walk in the grass or on the street to access the crosswalks. These new walks will provide a safe path to the crosswalks in summer and, more importantly, in the winter months.”

New sidewalks aren’t the only new feature coming to the square. Council on Sept. 13 approved accepting a $2,300 donation from the Chardon Square Association to purchase a large, single-sided, horizontal message center with LED lighting.

The city will pay for installation, electrical work and a plaque indicating the donor.

Sharpe recommended that it be placed across from the water fountain on the library side of the square, about midblock.

The message board will be used to advertise events and announcements.

“We will need to come up with some type of parameters (for those),” Sharpe said.

Meanwhile, council’s Service Committee continues to explore improvements to the square gazebo, built in 1981. The committee is seeking a detailed report on its condition from a structural engineer.

City officials hope to have any repairs done during the winter, if possible, so that the structure is available for use in the spring and summer months, said Councilman Andrew K. Blackley, committee chairman.

“We all agreed that the Gazebo is worth every effort that we can do to preserve it and make it safe for the public,” he said.