SPRINGVALE — It is as much a story about teamwork and community as it is about what was accomplished, say those involved with the sprucing up of Springvale Village.
Though there’s been a desire to make the Main Street of the village center more attractive for years, there was a new urgency this summer, when residents and business owners realized a paving project was imminent ”“ the perfect time, they said, to get the ball rolling. If they missed the window, the paving would be done ”“ and no one would want to dig it up to run conduit and the like to install new lighting or make other improvements.
It was time to move ahead and get rid of those ugly streetlights, replacing them with ones that were more attractive and more energy efficient. It was the time to remove an old chain fence on the bridge on Bridge Street and install a more decorative alternative. It was the time to have handicapped accessible sidewalks, and now was the time to convince the state to install some traffic bumpouts as they completed the paving project.
All that was needed was money. And so at the end of June, Springvale resident and developer Lionel Sevigny and some others called a meeting of residents, and business and property owners, and laid out the quest.
And here’s what happened: More than 80 businesspeople and residents opened their checkbooks and raised ”“ along with some help from the city and a private foundation ”“ approximately $220,000. They started at the end of June, and wound down when the project was completed at the end of October. The group fell about $20,000 short, but the fact they were able to raise that much showed the commitment, said Springvale businessman Jim Drummey, who was among those involved. And they’re hoping the remaining $20,000 will be forthcoming.
“People were really serious, and they care about the community,” said Drummey. “And Lionel’s leadership has been phenomenal.”
Both men acknowledged a lot of money went to what can’t be seen: all of the electrical work underground. They ran into foundations, and some other unexpected challenges, but in the end, 13 old streetlights were replaced and 10 new ones added. The old streetlights had been installed in the sidewalks, impeding the path of the sidewalk plow. The new ones aren’t.
On Monday, the new streetlights sported attractive autumn banners, and those involved in the project say “keep watching,” because there will be some Christmas-themed decorations there soon, and perhaps flowers in the summer.
As part of the overall project, the George E. Poirier Council 2755 Knights of Columbus and its subsidiary, the Springvale Social Club, adopted a plan that involves acquiring and tidying up a neglected, pocket-sized park next to the social club. As well, the old, chain-link fence on Bridge Street, adjacent to the club, was replaced with a more attractive, decorative fencing system.
The project also includes Sevigny’s plans to purchase a piece of city-owned property behind an apartment building he owns on Bridge Street for $50,000, which has secured the council’s property subcommittee recommendation to spend $25,000 from the purchase price to help buy streetlights and $25,000 to create a park on the property.
While much of the money was raised through private donations, there was help from the city. The city council agreed to invest $50,000 in the beautification project, from money it received from a negotiation with Central Maine Power over an easement through a portion of Springvale, and put another $25,000 into the road project from that account to extend sidewalks to Springvale Recreation Area. As well, the William Oscar Emery Trust, which must be used for beautification projects, has pledged money for the project for the past two years.
As part of the road construction project, the city negotiated with the state to include traffic-calming bump-outs in the block near Nasson Community Center’s Little Theatre.
And there were in-kind donations, too, like the Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce’s willingness to provide administrative support, among others.
“The big story here is that this was self-funded without tax dollars,” said Sevigny. He described the partnership with the city as “excellent.”
Drummey said the project was funded with “little checks,” sometimes as many as three checks from one donor, to large ones.
Sevigny said when he approached people for contributions, and all asked why their tax dollars weren’t paying for the improvements.
“The only way I knew how to answer was telling them, ”˜I’ve been on the complaining side for several years, so join me on the fixing side,’” Sevigny said.
Drummey said there was a “can-do” attitude by folks to get the job done.
Mayor Maura Herlihy described the project as “an excellent job done.”
“They were very organized, and they had a goal and they met it. It shows what you can do when you put a lot of community spirit behind a project,” she said.
Bruce Lamb of Springvale Hardware pointed out the desire for improvements in the village has been around for 15 to 20 years.
“We finally got it done, and we’re not stopping now,” he said.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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