Winfield Main Street Purchases Benches, Trash Cans

The Winfield Main Street program recently purchased three new benches for use at the Johnny Michael Spann Memorial Park. The project also included the purchase of 12 new trash cans to be used throughout the downtown district.

Shown with one of the new benches and trash cans are (seated, from left) Pastime Theatre Board Chairman Mary Hyche, Winfield Main Street President Danielle Miles, Winfield Main Street Vice President Amy Burleson and Pastime Theatre Board Member Dot Bolton, (back row, same order) Street Department employees J.C. Christian, Ronnie Feltman and Ricky Youngblood. These workers were charged with the task of assembling and distributing each of the 15 new pieces.

*Click image for larger view*

 

In 2007, the city obtained a $250,000 grant from the State of Alabama with a 20 percent match to install period antique lights throughout the downtown district. Winfield Main Street agreed to raise the matching funds by raising more than $77,000 by selling sidewalk bricks and granite slabs to individuals, families and businesses to be placed along the route. The brick pavers were sold to buyers from nearly every state in the union--purchased by people with connections to Winfield.

We would invite you to come downtown and walk our sidewalks and look at the variety of names, families and businesses represented. And if you haven't purchased a paver to honor a friend or loved one or even a former school classmate, it is never too late. Call the Winfield Main Street office at 487-8841 for details.

After the antique-style light posts went up in the district, Winfield Main Street joined with the Winfield Chamber of Commerce to purchase banners which have been used to display holidays, such as Christmas and the 4th of July, attractions, such as Mule Day and just add color to our city. Within the same year, the program also purchased new Christmas decorations for our downtown to go on the new street lights. A Santa sleigh and reindeer would follow for use at the Winfield City Hall and an 18-foot Christmas tree to be erected on the adjacent hill. The next year, we enlisted toy soldiers to be placed near the entrance to the administrative building and along the main streets through town.

Witnessing the renewal of our downtown has been a thrill--and to think, this all comes from one director and a number of dedicated volunteers who simply want to see their hometown spirit shine.

Our current project is the renovation of a historic building in the downtown district--the Hollis building. Winfield Main Street would buy the structure in 2007 before donating the facility to the city shortly thereafter. Additional funding has since been secured to cover the costs of renovating the building, which will be used to house the history of our community through a museum while providing space for public meetings as well as a complimentary role for the city’s historic theater located next door.

Working with the city, we are very excited about the future of this project and anticipate our close relationship with the mayor, city council and a newly-appointed team of volunteers created to oversee restoration at the site. Periodic updates will be posted at this site to update local residents about the project. News on the effort will also be available through the Journal Record. Please feel free to stop by the Winfield Main Street office for a quick visit.

We look forward to seeing our volunteer rolls expand in the coming months as the community further embraces our efforts to enhance our downtown district and the city we call home.

We want to hear from you. Winfield Main Street is open to suggestions on ways to improve our community while using our program as the vehicle for continued progress and change. We are always looking to the future while embracing our past.