SOUTH DEERFIELD — An information session regarding proposed town common improvements will be held Thursday night as the town seeks to collect public input on the project.
The Ad-Hoc Town Common Committee will host the session to provide residents with information regarding “safety and aesthetic” renovations that will be made to the park in the future. The session will be held remotely at 6:30 p.m. and can be accessed online at bit.ly/31Oj9Pn.
“They can expect to hear the results of our work,” said Kate Lawless, chair of the Ad-Hoc Town Common Committee. “We’ve been working on a plan for this town common for several years, I’d say since 2016.”
Lawless said safety and accessibility to the common is the “No. 1 reason” for the proposed renovations, which include reworked walkways, improved crosswalk connections and other general improvements.
“People love the common, and we want to make sure we honor that history and make sure it’s safe and usable for everyone,” Lawless said. “That’s our main reasoning behind it. … We really want to make it a place where people can come and contemplate the memorials and feel safe.”
Residents will have a chance to view and provide input on the current draft plans, which were created by Berkshire Design Group.
“We want to hear from (the public) as well,” Lawless said. “What works, what doesn’t work, if there’s anything they’d like to see. … We want to collect that input and make sure it’s something the majority of people are happy with.”
Renovations to the town common are “part of a bigger push” to revitalize the South Deerfield village. Pedestrian accessibility and safety is one of the top priorities for that push and Lawless said the town common could be one of the first steps toward realizing that goal.
“This is hopefully going to be one of the first visible signs that we’re making our town pedestrian-friendly and visitor-friendly,” Lawless said.
As of now, Lawless said her committee has “put in a request for town funding” and will be seeking voter approval at Town Meeting.
“We’re working to get funding to get the town on board at the next Town Meeting,” Lawless said. “Hopefully, the Select Board is able to secure funding from state and federal sources as well.”
Lawless said a concrete timeline has yet to be laid out as there are several processes that still need to be worked through, but she said when the improvements are done, the common will be a “safe and beautiful attraction for the center of town.”
“It’s a couple of years down the road until we see actual results,” Lawless said. “We’ll be getting a final design, putting it out to bid and getting the work done.”