What is Designing the Village?
Designing the Village is a small demonstration project of the Westport Arts Council, funded in part by the Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust and strongly supported by a growing list of local associations. The Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen unanimously endorsed the project. Designing the Village supports the visionary Master Plan recommendations for Central Village that emphasize a pedestrian focus with safe areas for walking. “Construction of sidewalks should be considered that promote a ‘village-type’ character to allow and encourage safe pedestrian travel between the commercial uses, the community/civic centers and the new senior housing. Sidewalks would also help define future pedestrian-friendly business opportunities.” The project is using the ‘compact village scheme’ developed in 2001 through a Regional Design Charrette and included in the Master Plan Update. When the results of the Charrette were presented at a public forum in 2001, Village residents and businesses expressed a strong preference for this plan that builds on the present village and expands it to the west.
What will the project do? Initially, it will make the Village more people friendly by the installation of some pedestrian amenities such as benches and landscaping. Designing the Village will encourage the importance of sidewalks and walkways through a community-wide effort that includes a widely publicized competition to design these amenities for Central Village. It will also involve school children in generating ideas for an enhanced village atmosphere.
How and when will this happen? The project is being managed by a group of volunteers, led by the Westport Arts Council. The project Steering Committee includes business and community leaders, and representatives of different parts of Westport, including neighborhood associations and local commissions. The Design Competition will invite designs for pedestrian amenities and street furniture that meet criteria established by the Steering Committee.Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning designers and artists. The competition will be launched in September 2005; submissions are due April 3, 2006 judging will take place in May 2006, and there will be an exhibit of the winners and finalists in June. Winning designs will be showcased as part of the Central Village Family Concert on July 8, 2006. Installation will be completed by December 2006.
Will the designs be appropriate for Central Village? The criteria for the design competition will be developed under the leadership of Dave Wallace, liaison to the Planning Board. The criteria will include input from the Westport Historical Commission, long-time residents, and other people who are concerned about maintaining Westport’s rural character while addressing current needs. The criteria will include attention to historic traditions and indigenous materials.
Where will the designs be located? We intend to install at least four of the winning designs in Central Village. The preliminary sites are:
1) near the entrance to the new Cottages complex,
2) in front of the Desjardin’s law office,
3) in front of Town Hall, closer to the Police Station,
4) near the playground, at the grassy section close to Country Woolens and
5) in front of Partners’ new location.
Who is going to pay for this? The Westport Arts Council has awarded $5,000 from the Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust to launch the project. Fundraising through events and donations will raise at least $10,000 in cash and another $10,000 in in-kind services for the installation of the award winning designs. Proposals for government funds will raise additional funds to underwrite the installations. The private fundraising is being planned under the direction of Carolyn Kaiser and a committee. The fundraising will include invitations in November to sponsors to underwrite the design and construction of the Bench-Marks. A celebratory Central Village Family Concert will be held on July 8, 2006. Following the Family Concert, there will be an auction to complete the fund raising.
Who is going to pay for the sidewalks? That’s a much longer-range plan that will be addressed by the town. Designing the Village committee is assisting the town by identifying state and federal funds to cover most of the costs. Bob Karam of Karam Financial Group, and developer of the new Westport Cottages, has contributed $10,000 for the sidewalks. His money will be part of the local match that is needed for most state and federal funding.
Are there any other Town Committees working on this effort? The Board of Selectmen recently appointed an official town committee to work on Central Village sidewalks and related planning. The committee will meet in mid October to develop their mission and scope of work. Information on the Sidewalk committee will be posted on this website.
How can local people make their opinions known? We welcome input. People are invited to the Steering Committee meetings; watch the opening page of Designing the Village website to see the date of the next meeting. Also, Phil Hudner is seeking public input; people are encouraged to send comments, suggestions, and questions to westportforum@aol.com.
What are the Westport Arts Council and the Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust?
The Westport Arts Council is a town appointed, volunteer group of citizens who manage two cultural grant programs in the community. One program is conducted in the fall, funded by the Local Cultural Council grant that comes from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The second program, conducted in the spring, is the Helen Ellis grant program supported by funds from the Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust Fund, administered by the Bank of America, Charitable Management Services. Helen Ellis, an artist and a dedicated educator, was a resident of Westport for over 50 years. Her dream of inspiring others to develop their creative talents is carried out by the Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust. The Trust provides annual funding for the Westport Arts Council to make awards for projects that benefit Westport residents. Since 1984, with funding from both the Mass Cultural Council and the Helen E. Ellis Trust, the Westport Arts Council has awarded over $250,000 for more than 350 programs. |
