Groups will beautify downtown gateways

The design board was divided on the look of new light poles at a half-dozen routes into downtown.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Downtown's gateways are getting some sprucing up.
The all-volunteer Streetscape group is planning new light poles, banners and hanging plants at a half-dozen main routes into downtown.
One of those gateways, the South Avenue bridge, will get banners and landscaping courtesy of the local Fraternal Order of Police.
The city's design review commission reviewed both projects Wednesday.
The board agreed with Streetscape's concept but made some suggestions. They asked the group to return with final plans. The board approved the FOP project.
Streetscape has a $15,000 grant from the Mahoning County Recycling Division to erect decorative poles with planters and vertical banners that welcome people to downtown.
The poles are planned for spots where roads enter downtown at East Federal, West Federal and Market streets and South, Fifth and Wick avenues.
Streetscape had a 17-foot-high, old fashioned-style decorative pole in mind that is black with two lamps at the top and 4-foot-long banners.
The design board was divided on the look. Some said the poles would stand out too much and look "misfit." Others agreed that a pole which stands out is the whole point of dressing up such areas.
Compromise
Ultimately, the board suggested a design closer to the black, but more plain, light poles that line Federal Street. The poles have one lamp that extends out over the street at a 90-degree angle.
John Lapin, a Streetscape volunteer who made the presentation, said a middle ground is fine with the group.
Streetscape has been planning to address downtown gateways for a couple years.
Streetscape started about five years ago by planting flowers downtown each spring and maintaining them. The group since has branched out into other projects such as a garden "bunker" downtown, a war memorial in Smoky Hollow, and the hillside between downtown and Choffin Career Center.
At South Avenue, FOP Lodge 28 wants to hang 8-foot-long vertical banners on light poles that dot the bridge.
The banners will decorate the otherwise unadorned crossing and highlight the span's official name, said Detective David P. Sweeney, the FOP president. The bridge's official name is the Peace Officers Memorial Bridge.
A small sign and plaque are the only items denoting the bridge as a memorial to fallen officers, said Detective Rick Alli.
Banners will feature the bridge's true name. Volunteers will install them, they said.
Also, volunteers will cut back overgrown weeds and plant 13 red maple trees in the grassy areas that flank the south end of the bridge near the Interstate 680 overpass. The group may undertake sprucing up the north end of the span, near the main post office, later.
The goal is to make drivers recognize that the bridge is dedicated to peace officers and to make the display look nice, they said.
The board also approved two other projects:
* Signs for the Cafe de Casa on Rayen Avenue.
* Awnings and signs for the All Children Learn Differently school on Rayen Avenue.