BUCKLAND — As part of the Shelburne Falls Rapid Recovery Plan, the town will redesign the picnic area in the alley between Buckland Pizza and Town Hall.
Buckland received $8,000 in grant money for equipment and $1,500 for art. The grant paying for the Shelburne Falls Rapid Recovery Plan is funded through the state Department of Housing and Community Development. The plan’s purpose is to “develop action-oriented projects to help the village recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) website.
At Tuesday’s Selectboard meeting, Town Administrator Heather Butler explained the town forgot it had received this grant. Jessica Atwood, FRCOG’s economic development program manager, informed Butler the grant must be used by the end of June, and the town began planning.
“What an opportunity that we almost forgot about,” Butler told the board.
Plans for the space involve creating a frame that will stretch the length of the alley, from which the town can hang bistro lights. The plan is to not drill holes on the exterior of the buildings. The picnic tables already there will be used in the final design.
There has also been discussion about placing a community fridge in the alley. An electricity source needs to be identified for the fridge.
Buckland hired a company called Sowing Solutions to help complete the project. Sowing Solutions emphasizes permaculture design and ecological land stewardship. It offers garden design, installation, maintenance and education.
“There is a central lounge area that can be adjusted for a large group to sit together (in the event that there is a meeting in the space or a special event),” Kay McGrenaghan Cafasso, director of Sowing Solutions, wrote to describe the design in an email. “There is also an area for a pop-up event (if a 6-foot or 8-foot table is brought into one of the two seater areas). Vegetation will create an inviting space by day and night, and lighting will invite guests in the evenings.”
After the equipment is purchased, which must be done by the end of this month, it will take the rest of the summer to finish the design.
“It will look nice,” Selectboard member Larry Wells commented during Tuesday’s meeting. “It needs it.”
Bella Levavi can be reached at blevavi@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.