Wyoming’s Village Green Project will kick off in the coming weeks. A deadline to purchase engraved pavers—part of the fundraising for the nearly $1.5 million effort—is nearing its last call.
Construction on a new performance pavilion and related renovations is scheduled to start the week of June 29 with a slated Oct. 1 finish—ahead of the city’s annual Fall Festival. Some prep work has already begun.
Rusty Herzog, Wyoming City Manager, says the project will create a more welcoming spot for community gatherings.
The transformation is headlined by the construction of a new state-of-the-art performance pavilion on the north side of the Village Green, surrounded by accessible gardens, an open great lawn, lush landscaping, turf, picnic tables, and umbrellas fronted by a seat wall and gateway signage.
He says the City’s last two master plans called for improvements to areas like the Village Green.
He says it will serve as an economic catalyst as well.
“The goal is to make downtown Wyoming the city’s gathering spot, where families can hang out, walk around, and grab food and ice cream,” Herzog says. “We’ll have the capacity to put on more events that pull people in, and those events will spur economic growth in the business district.”
Wyoming city council awarded a bid worth $1.436 million to Ohio-based Alpha Construction in April.
While enough has been raised to start the project, the city is still looking to round up additional dollars. Its initial fundraising goal was $850,000.
All money raised from outside sources will help offset the amount committed from the city’s general fund.
The Wyoming Community Foundation is spearheading a number of initiatives, and donors can pick from a variety of funding opportunities, including overall pavilion naming rights and signage placements.
Engraved pavers, ranging in size from 12-by-12 inches ($500) to 4-by-8 inches ($200), are still available and can be ordered until July 1.
Due to the construction, the city’s summer entertainment series—which includes both concerts and children’s shows—will relocate to nearby Crescent Park.
The summer schedule starts June 1 with a visit from The Wump Mucket Puppets.
