Upgrades planned for Athol’s retail shopping area

ATHOL – Assistant Public Works Director Paul Raskevitz met with the Downtown Vitality Committee to provide an update on new amenities for the town’s retail shopping area to improve aesthetics and pedestrian safety.

“We are going to order another rapid flash beacon,” said Raskevitz, “because we did run it through the Safety Committee last year and if we can put this on our budget this year, because last year got super-thin. We’re going to get one now, and we’ll see about a second one in the fall.”

The beacons alert motorists to the presence of pedestrians wishing to use a crosswalk. Raskevitz said the first beacon will be in front of Town Hall or Athol House of Pizza. DVC member Paula Robinson asked if another could be placed at the crosswalk that runs across Main Street between St. Francis Church and the Millers River Environmental Center.

“I think we could definitely put one there,” Raskevitz responded.

Responding to a question from committee member Diane DiPietro, Raskevitz said each of the flashing beacons cost about $10,000.

“So they’re great, but they’re expensive,” he said. “When we first started putting them in, they were about six grand apiece.”

Robinson also wanted to know about re-painting of crosswalks, that a number of those at intersections are hard to see. Raskevitz said that painting begins in the spring and done in the evenings, beginning with Main Street and branching out from there.

“High-traffic areas generally get painted annually,” he said. “For the ones further out, they may be done every three years. Our goal is to do everything before it fades out.”

Athol Planning and Development Director Eric Smith then turned to another topic, noting the town’s recent designation as a Tree City USA.

“So, basically, we can apply for grant money for tree planting,” Smith said. “We’ll need to talk about the next round of Community Forestry grants, which may be available later this year.”

Smith added that there might be some funds available through the town’s Parking Benefits District budget.

“That might help in getting some more trees put in between Town Hall and Exchange (Street),” said Smith. “And we all know we need to do between Exchange and the post office area.”

Raskevitz also told the committee that the DPW will be installing another bench downtown, most likely near Kellie’s café at the corner of Main and School streets. This will make the sixth pedestrian bench Public Works has installed downtown in recent years at a cost of approximately $500 each.

Committee member Ann Willhite, owner of Déjà Vu Women’s Consignment, asked if signage could be placed letting people know that the use of skateboards, bicycles and scooters on downtown sidewalks is prohibited.

“Just so that people are aware they’re not supposed to be doing it,” Willhite said. “It may not stop all of them, necessarily. I speak to whoever I see on one. Some of my customers and I have all had close calls. My door is recessed, and you come out and sometimes there’s a skateboard or bicycle zooming by.”

Raskevitz said he would speak with Police Chief Craig Lundgren to see what could be done to address the problem.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@aol.com