Route 102 Broncos Highway-Gateway Project
"Welcome to Burrillville"
The Gateway Project was started by the Burrillville Conservation Commission approximately two years ago and is a long term plan to beautify a blighted area along Route 102 Broncos Highway adjacent to the intersection of Route 102, Inman and Nasonville Roads. The area presently blighted with "No Trespassing"
and "No Parking" signs has been formally adopted by the Conservation Commission as an "Adopt-A-Spot" through the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, since it is within their right-of-way.
Basically, the scope of the project started as a plan to create an aesthetic "Welcome" site into the town on the Route 102 corridor for motorists traveling south on 102 from the Route 146 area.
The idea started two years ago by requesting funding through the CIP program, in which funds were not approved. The Conservation Commission then sought grant funding and donations from local businesses to help assist in the projects success. No businesses were willing to donate to the cause.
For the last two years the Conservation Commission unanimously agreed to allocate a portion of our annual budget to be dedicated to the cause. During the second year, following a plan of work was agreed upon; the Commission started the project on Arbor Day 2005 with a commemorative tree planting that was donated by the Arbor Day Foundation. The first tree to be planted on the site was a "Flowering Plum Tree". The Town Council people and local representatives along with the town management were invited to the site dedication and the planting was a good success.
Following the Arbor Day tree planting a portion of the Commission's budget was spent this year to plant approximately one-dozen trees on the site consisting of White Pines, Red Maples and Pin Oaks. A support rally was promoted during September 05 for a tree planting in October and two local businesses supported the cause by providing labor and equipment for the occasion. Roots & Shoots donated the delivery of mulch to the site and D.H. Keene donated excavation services to dig the tree locations for the plantings. A sincere Thank you to all the volunteers who helped to start this project.
Now the Commission is in the third stage of the project and has advertised a public bid process to take competitive bids for the construction of a "Welcome to Burrillville" sign. Following the approval of the bids, motorists can expect to see the constructed sign by June 2006 along the Route 102 corridor at the Burrillville, North Smithfield town line.
Future plans for the site also include extending the limits of the tree planting further south along 102 towards the intersection of Nasonville Road and Inman Road.
All public support is welcome and volunteers are encouraged to contact the Town Clerk for more information on how to become involved. Labor and cash donations are also welcome as the project is on an extremely limited and tight budget.
With the goal of the project being focused on creating a more pleasing welcome into Burrillville, the hope is to attract better businesses, promote environmental awareness and stimulate public involvement in the community.
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