Envision Williamston announces new town beautification project

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Adopt a Rest Stop

Envision Williamston (EW) is unveiling a project to help beautify the Downtown Historic Corridor of the Town of Williamston. The first of 12 sites planned as part of the “Adopt a Rest Stop” program was created with private funds provided by Ace Hardware and the generous donation of time and talent from Ragsdale’s Decks. The new pergola and bench seating is located on East Main Street at Town Square Center parking lot (next to McDonalds).

Picttured – Rodney Ragsdale of Ragsdale’s Decks looks on as workers put the final touches on a wooden pergola over the first Adopt a Rest Stop location on East Main Street. Ragsdale joined site sponsor Ace Hardware to design and build the pergola for the centerpiece project as part of the Envision Williamston downtown beautification “Adopt a Rest Stop” program.

“The Adopt a Rest Stop project will complement the Town’s proposed electronic message board and street banners, creating a vibrant and fresh look to the downtown,” according to EW Executive Director Sonya Crandall. “It will encourage greater visitor/pedestrian foot traffic, serve as a catalyst to generate spillover effects from community events held in Mineral Spring Park and help create an inviting environment for new business development.”

The Ace rest stop project is the first of two sites that have already been created, according to Crandall.

The Ace rest stop is a larger scale rest stop that has a social layout, with two benches facing each other, complemented by planters and a pergola.

“I want to send out a huge “Thank You” to Rodney Ragsdale and Ragsdale’s Decks for partnering with us to create the first, of hopefully many, rest stops in the Envision Williamston’s Adopt a Rest Stop program,” said Jim Simpson, owner of Ace Hardware and Chairman of the Envision Williamston Economic Development and Placemaking Committee.

Simpson said the EW Adopt a Rest Stop program will be a two year program to build several versions of rest stops throughout the town.

“Along with Rodney, I would like to challenge all our businesses, property owners and organizations to join us in the wonderful effort to improve the appearance and appeal of our town,” Simpson said.

A smaller version called a linear rest stop, sponsored by Envision Williamston and the Town of Williamston is located along West Main Street in Historic Mineral Spring Park.

It includes a single park bench offest by two planters. The base will be stained in the spring when temperatures warm.

“These two sites illustrate the variations of rest stops that can be created, while still maintaining an overall theme and look for the downtown historic area,” Crandall said.

Envision Williamston committee volunteers will be recruiting sponsors for the 12 sites spread throughout the town.

The sponsor of each site will be responsible for construction, design and funding of their rest stop.

To help reduce the cost, Envision Williamston has negotiated a bulk purchase price for the planters and park benches needed for each site.

Sponsors will also be responsible for flowers and plants that can be added to help beautify the site and the town. Sponsors may also post a committee approved message on their bench and/or planter, Simpson said.

Participating sponsors agree to maintain their site for three years and commitments are renewable.

Any business, church, organization or individual interested in participating in the Adopt a Rest Stop can contact an Envision Williamston representative for additional information.

Sonya Crandall, Executive Director at 864-650-7075 or Jim Simpson, Economic Development & Placemaking Chair at 864-934-2850.

“We hope that through this project we can transform Williamston’s appearance into an even greater example of pride we all share in our town,” Crandall said.