Ideas Wanted

In a little over a years time from now the Town Hall, and Center School project will be complete, and Route 131 that runs right out front of the two structures should be totally redone with new brick sidewalks around the common, and sidewalks extending all the way to the Sturbridge town line.

This is going to look swell!

The projects will accomplish several things. One, the old Town Hall is totally rehabbed into a fine place in which to conduct the towns business, and the long vacant Center School gets a new life as additional municipal offices. To top it off, the road that separates the two buildings is getting a complete makeover. the road bed will be taken down, a new one applied, new brick sidewalks around the Common, and a safe place to walk all the way to Southbridge will be installed.

It took a few years to get all these ducks in a row, but the end is nigh, and Sturbridge will be far better off with the completion of these projects. Civic pride is something not heard as much nowadays as it was 50 years ago, but it is essential to maintaining what we have, and growing in the direction we want.

After these projects are completed the expansion of the Burgess Elementary School will be completed, as well. More recently, the ball fields behind the DPW were completely rehabbed into prime playing fields.

All in all, I know we are headed in the right direction.

I wonder when all these current projects are completed what will be next for the town?

Well, of course there is the water treatment facility. That will be a something the town can be proud of as well, but what about the Recycling Center, and the old dump? Will the old dump be properly covered? Will the Town harness the methane beneath it? How great would that be!?

Will the "parking crisis" be solved? How about a new, safe boat ramp for Cedar Lake? Traffic lights at Arnold and Main, New Boston and Route 20, Hall Road, and Main, and at the other end at Route 20? Will Route 20 between Route 131 and Route 148 be re-designed, and rebuilt?

Lots of questions. Lots of potential projects, too. I'd be interested in hearing from you as to what you would consider something that would make an improvement here in town. I am sure many of you have had something in mind for years, or just thought of something recently that could use improvement, or something totally new.

Leave your ideas in the comment section, and let's see if any are worth to garner the attention of those in the Town Hall.

Don't be afraid to be as "out there" as you want to be with your ideas. After all, that is how things get done. Aim high.