Hello,
With summer fully underway I hope all of you are enjoying the pools being open and the wonderful gardens scattered throughout the Village.
I am encouraged to see that work on Lincoln Park has finally gotten underway and my understanding is, the goal of a fall completion is still possible. If you would like to see a rendering of what the refreshed park will look like, please visit this site: Parks Project. In addition to the work on Lincoln Park the Carpenter Nature Preserve located north of town will officially open in early June. This wonderful preserve will be an amazing addition to our town and something all of us can be proud of.
The road realignment project, or Main Street Momentum as the town is calling the project is also underway although visible signs of work likely will not start until the first of 2027. This project while disruptive when under construction, will hopefully provide some relief to the increasing amounts of traffic flowing through the Village. Many citizens have provided thoughts and input to the town on the design and aesthetics of the project, and we have been assured that the town has listened and reviewed these comments and incorporated them into the design where feasible. Time will tell. Regardless, this project will transform the entrance to our Village, and my hope is that the special charm and character of the village will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Speaking of preservation, be sure to attend our October 21st meeting where we will have local architect and Village resident Todd Rottman speak to us on the importance of preservation in the Village. Todd has undertaken many rehab and new construction projects in the Village and has a deep understanding of how to blend the new with the old and how to modernise without compromising the historic nature of the village architecture.
With the VRA Porch party in the rear-view mirror we are looking forward to Food Truck Mondays this June and July. The dates are below and this year due to the Lincoln Park construction the trucks will be located near the Gazabo of Lions Park from 5 to 7:30 pm. A big thank-you to the board of the park for granting us permission to use it for these events. Please try and join us, grab some grub and enjoy the park!
- June 22n
- July 13th
- July 27th
Picnic on the Bricks will be the usual grand event on September 19th, and our new Chili Cookoff will take place October 24th. Details on both will be published as we get closer to those events. I will provide more information on the content of our July meeting as well once guest and topics confirmed.
Finally, I hope you enjoy this Fourth of July when America celebrates it 250th anniversary! As always, the Village will be a hopping place though out the day and evening.
As always if you have any comments, questions or concerns as it relates to the Village, or a topic you would like us to address in one of our meetings, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m always grateful when residents communicate with us.
All the Best,
Mark
VRA Leadership Team
Mark Walters – President
Aaron Walton – Vice President
Phil Martini- Treasurer
Erin Effler – Secretary
Danielle Prezet – Events Coordinator