The Stonington Village Improvement Association (SVIA) recently announced its newest initiatives for the betterment of the Stonington Borough; restoring Cannon Square, refurbishing the remaining stone crosswalks, and revitalizing the number of public trees. Jim Hicks, vice president of the SVIA, explained why these projects topped the list for 2008.
“These initiatives are supported by a survey of registered voters in the Borough conducted in December 2007,” Hicks said. “We are excited about the positive impact they will have on the village and we appreciate the support from Borough elected officials, Peter Cummin, and the Stonington Historical Society.”
All three projects will be seen to fruition through the cooperation of Borough officials, the SVIA, the Stonington Historical Society, and various other businesses and residents. While still in their planning stage, the first of the three initiatives to be completed is thought to be the restoration of Cannon Square. Situated across from the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club, and marking the transition of Water St. from one-way to two-way, Cannon Square is one of the most recognizable features of the Borough with two original cannons from the battle of 1814 proudly on display. Yet anyone who has visited the landmark lately would certainly agree with Borough Burgess Sarah Blair.
“Both the square and the cannons are showing their age and we need to do something about that,” Blair said.
The plan calls for the cannons to be removed, and shipped off—possibly to the Pennsylvania Amish—to be completely restored, including replacing all the wooden parts, many of which have begun rotting, and resurfacing and painting the cannons themselves. The ground itself is to be leveled, reseeded, and the chain fence removed. Also as a part of the public tree initiative, Cannon Square is to receive two elegant American Princeton Hybrid Elms. Hicks said that October is a tentative date for the project to be completed. Estimated at around $40,000, the Borough has already pledged $10,000 and the remaining costs are to be covered by donations, SVIA fund-raising and a possible state grant being pursued by State Senator Andy Maynard.
Like the restoration of Cannon Square, the refurbishing of the Borough’s stone crosswalks is another step toward preserving the rich historical traditions of the unique village. The project is spearheaded by SVIA member and Borough resident Paul Burgess, who took it upon himself to identify and catalogue the crosswalks scattered throughout the village. Once numbering 50, only 19 stone crosswalks now remain in the Borough, many of which have been paved and painted over.
Starting in 2008 and tentatively scheduled to be completed in 2013, the crosswalks are to be removed, resurfaced, and set back in place simultaneously with the scheduled repairs to the roads and curbs on which they exist. This will not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the village’s roads, but with the stones replaced slightly above the road’s surface, the crosswalks will also act to slow down traffic on the heavily traveled Water St. and Main St. Cost has not yet been determined, but as with Cannon Square, funding will likely come from the Borough, the SVIA, the Stonington Historical Society, and donations from residents.
The revitalization of public trees throughout the Borough is largely the work of Blair, who was appointed to the Commission of Parks and Trees when she was first elected a Burgess. Working closely with the SVIA and renowned expert landscaper Peter Cummin, Blair has enlisted New England Geosystems to gather GPS information on every public tree in the Borough, forming an electronic inventory including species and characteristics. Once catalogued, Cummin and Blair will work to create a master plan which will see the addition of select species of trees placed in strategic locations around the Borough. No cost or time frame has yet been established but the first phase of the inventorying process has already been completed.
All three projects will begin in 2008 and stand to improve the historical significance and aesthetics of the Borough.
“These are all important projects to the Borough,” Blair said. “We have a chance to do right for even the future generations of the Borough, not just those who lives here now, and it’s important that we do things the right way.”