By Myrna McMahan, Correspondent
TRENTON, Ga. — A transportation enhancement grant to Trenton for a streetscape project will inject new life into the center of the city, Mayor Anthony Emanuel said.
He said the city and the Downtown Development Authority have needed just such a catalyst to improve the look of the U.S. Highway 11 corridor around the courthouse and eventually north and south of the courthouse.
“The $250,000 grant awarded for our streetscape project will enable us to change the face of this town,” Mayor Emanuel said.
The grant was delivered last week by Mike Evans, chairman of the Georgia Department of Transportation board to Trenton authorities.
The mayor credited the “collaboration and hard work by the city of Trenton, its Downtown Development Authority and Better Hometown Manager Peter Cervelli,” as well as Dade County commissioners, public and private business owners, Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, and Rep. Martin Scott, R-Rossville, for help in securing the grant.
Mr. Emanuel said streetscape will be a multiyear project.
“The look and feel of U.S. 11/Main Street in downtown Trenton will be redesigned,” he said, with landscaping, historic beautification and by opening up pedestrian and bicycle routes.
“We want to make a statement about downtown Trenton, and this award will allow that process to begin.” Mayor Emanuel added.
The DDA’s has other projects, too.
The design committee, headed by local sculptor Bob Dombrowski, is creating the Town Creek Trail that winds through Trenton and underneath Main Street.
Charlene Nash, senior horticulturist for the Tennessee Aquarium, is a consultant for the committee and will advise on plants to use along the trail to reduce erosion.
“Her services are free,” said committee member Mary Petruska, also an artist. “It’s part of the Aquarium’s outreach program which covers a 50-mile radius.”
Mr. Dombrowski said work has been done on the south side of the creek in the Jenkins Park. “Flagstones for the footpath and a bench have been added to create the Reflection Garden section of the trail.”
In other DDA work, Allan Ward of the economic restructuring committee is meeting with officials to discuss senior citizen housing. Rex Harrison and the promotions committee announced the Easter egg hunt at Jenkins Park on Saturday and Family Fest on April 18-20.
The organization committee, chaired by Janet York, is developing nontax revenue sources.
Mayor Emanuel credited the work of the committees for moving the city forward.
E-mail Myrna McMahan at tturner@timesfreepress.com
