By Maggie Dolbow
Correspondent

GOFFSTOWN - Residents who travel daily along Main Street have enjoyed the changing view as Rotary Park and Goffstown Common were landscaped and brightened over the past several years. Much work begun by the Rotary Club intensified as the Main Street program began focusing improvements on the appearance of the neighborhood.

For a couple of years, a plan to spruce up the town hall has been in the background. Now the Rotary Club, the Main Street Program, and several landscaping professionals have joined forces to complete the project over the first two weekends in August. A design by resident Diane Ryan includes a new brick park with plant beds and benches, a new sidewalk around the building and a cement patio in back of town hall. A couple of additional shade trees will add cool spaces in summer.

According to Main Street Coordinator Cathy Ewing, there will eventually be a granite sign similar to the one in front of the Goffstown Library. An old antenna behind town hall will be removed. Upgraded lighting will complement the building at night and make the parking lot safer.

"The goal is to tie the town together comfortably, providing access when the area behind town hall begins to be developed for business. Pedestrians will feel comfortable parking their cars and browsing," said Ewing.

Mike Ryan, Main Street board member, is heading up the project with help from several town departments. Also assisting are Brown Graphix, Bryan Fournier Landscaping, First Signs, Goffstown Green Thumb Landscaping and Irrigation, Goffstown True Value Hardware, Grasshopper Landscaping, Landscaping Plus, Rynearson Co., and plumber Rick Kincaid.

Many of these professionals met on Thursday, April 21, to complete plans for the summer.

Ryan, a designer, said, "Your last chance to buy an engraved brick for this project is June 30. This is really the final deadline because we want to have the engraved bricks ready to be laid over those first two weekends of August."

She noted that you might also order a brick to be placed on the town common at this time. "Many people have added to their families since the common was completed and would like to have their entire family in one park. We can accommodate that."

The following businesses have brick order forms available: Putnam.s Waterview Restaurant, Howe's Pharmacy, Inis Framing, Kameleon's Gift and Flower Shoppe, Goffstown True Value Hardware, Town Clerk's Office in Town Hall, Powden Jewelery, Goffstown Public Library, and Jo-Marie's Country Shoppe.

For more information about the town hall "Spruce Up" project or to volunteer, call 497-9933 or email gmsp@verizon.net.