SHELBURNE FALLS — The old Buckland rail yard has served as a parking lot above the Salmon Falls Gallery for several years, but many would like to see this space — and its beautiful views of the village — transformed into an inviting, user-friendly space.
This Wednesday, the Shelburne Falls Area Partnership will host “Junction: Renewal in the Rail Yard,” a discussion of design plans to better connect the area with the downtown village. Residents of both Buckland and Shelburne are invited to attend. The program starts at 7 p.m. in the Buckland Town Hall.
David Grist of the Conway School of Landscape Design has created a design for the parking area. He will be there, along with land-use planner Mary Chicoine of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, to discuss the plan and answer any questions about the project.
“They will explain what place-making is and the purpose of the multi-faceted design plan being proposed for the rail yard area,” said Whit Sanford, of the Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association. Ideas that have come up in earlier meetings include more attractive parking areas, restrooms, sculptures, a place for tour buses and public space.
Sanford and Selectboard members from Buckland and Shelburne will be present to answer questions about the project.
According to “The History of Buckland, Massachusetts,” the Shelburne Falls Railroad Depot was built in 1910 and was razed in 1973.
The Shelburne Falls Area Partnership was formed in 1995 by Buckland, Shelburne and the business association to plan and implement capital and infrastructure improvements in the village.