Sarah Harrington
(12/16) On Dec 3rd, Thurmont celebrated the pending conclusion of the downtown revitalization project.
In 2014, as part of the Maryland Main Street program, the project included the addition of several new items. These items included new sidewalks, curbs, gutters, decorative energy efficient street lights on East Main, West Main, North Church Streets and Water Street, new benches, new bicycle racks, and trash receptacles in the downtown area.
The State Highway Department funded the sidewalk work on East Main Street, West Main Street and North Church Street. The state work totaled over $2.1 million. Thurmont funded the all the new streetlights, benches, trashcans, and bike racks as well as the sidewalk work on Water Street. Thurmont’s contribution to the effort was approximately $250,000, of that amount,
$185,000 was paid by a grant to cover the costs of Water Street part of the project.
With the project is now 98% finished. The town invited all those who were a part of making the project a reality to celebrate at the recently finished Main Street Center to celebrate all of their hard work.
Thurmont’s Chief Administrative Officer, Jim Humerick, gave thanks on behalf of the town to those who worked extremely hard to bring the town’s vision to life, including the town staff, the State Highway Administration, and Romano Concrete Construction and Catoctin Lighting. Collectively they worked hard to replace the sidewalks, light fixtures, and much more.
Humerick also thanked Main Street Manager, Vickie Grinder, for her large role in executing work on the Main Street Center progress allowing work to be done to get it up and running for the town.
Commissioner Marty Burns said that the revitalization project is a true show to the public that the town elected officials "get it" and are willing to improve the town for the residents. "Job well done!" Burns congratulated everyone.
Commissioner Wes Hamrick said HE was impressed with the work and turnout of the downtown area. Hamrick choked up as he expressed his happiness with the project. According to Hamrick this is the first time the town has had a unified sidewalk. Hamrick told a story at the celebration about bringing family from out of town through the downtown Thurmont area before the project
was finished and how they informed him that he was lucky to live in a place that looked like "Hallmark."
The commissioners and Mayor Kinnaird thanked everyone who was involved in the project and let the attendees know that they always want to do what they can to make Thurmont the nicest and friendliest town in Maryland. The downtown revitalization project is just the start of many good things to come.
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