CLEVELAND, Tenn. — MainStreet Cleveland will be able to check off two more projects on its downtown master plan this summer.
Using a $15,000 grant from MainStreet Tennessee, the local organization has begun a “way finding” project, placing traffic signs in strategic places to direct visiting motorists to areas such as the downtown historic district.
“Way finding has been a long time coming,” Mayor Tom Rowland said.
Meanwhile, the First Street Square is on pace to be ready for the public soon.
Tree planting began in the passive park on Monday.
Doug Cawood, the MainStreet Cleveland board president, said Monday “we hope to have the Arbor Day celebration there for Cleveland and Bradley County. So we are trying to get as many of those plants in prior to that.”
Sharon Marr, MainStreet Cleveland director, said the Five Points Farmers Market will begin its second year May 27. If the opening date is too soon for First Street Plaza, she said Monday, the market will open where it began last year, at the Museum Center at Five Points.
The work is on schedule for completion in late May to early June, Mr. Cawood said, depending on weather and delivery of light fixtures.
In 2003, MainStreet hired a consultant to develop its downtown plan, which was completed in 2004.
Mr. Cawood said planner Ross/Fowler P.C. included the signage plan “to promote downtown and get people into downtown from the interstate and other areas.”
The master plan identified four improvement areas and calls for pedestrian-friendly routes among them.
The plan calls for directional signs at 17 perimeter sites at Exits 20, 25 and 27 from Interstate 75, Inman Street and U.S. Highway 64 as well as on Dalton Pike. The signs will direct motorists to the Museum Center at Five Points, Lee University, First Street Square and the Cleveland/Bradley Public Library.
Posts now used for stop signs and parking information signs will be changed to black posts so there will be a uniform color throughout the area.
“If you can imagine, there are between 100 and 120 of these posts in the blocks around the courthouse,” Mr. Cawood said.
MainStreet Cleveland has applied for another MainStreet Tennessee grant, Ms. Marr said Monday. The grant would be used for streetscapes.
A division of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, the MainStreet program helps cities develop economic growth and development plans for downtown commercial districts. Twenty-three Tennessee cities have a MainStreet program.
Using the city’s own sign shop, Mr. Cawood said MainStreet Cleveland “was able to get more bang for our bucks.”
Cleveland’s signs will be bought by June 30 and installed as soon as the city Public Works Department’s schedule allows.
2004 MASTER PLAN IMPROVEMENT AREAS
Courthouse Square
Johnston Park
First Street Square
Museum Square
Way Finding
Streetscapes
Source: MainStreet Cleveland
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