Main Street Enjoys New Look After Downtown Improvement Effort

Written by Craig McCarthy

A new Downtown West Orange Alliance beautification project has been completed, Mayor Robert D. Parisi announced last week.

The project was funded through a $25,000 Community Development Block Grant obtained by the DWOA, which the alliance matched using reserve money saved over the past three years.

The project gives the Main Street corridor a new look, thanks to 160 new planters strategically placed in front of stores and already existing older pots that were reseeded and replanted. 

“This huge project was the brainchild of DWOA board member John Bober and was a coordinated effort of our board, council members, Department of Public Works employees and volunteers from the community,” DWOA Executive Director Megan Brill said, adding that the planters are getting a positive reaction from Main Street inhabitants and visitors. “As we were out and about, store owners and residents stopped us to comment on how beautiful the pots were.

"All of the business owners wanted a planter in front of their store," Brill said.

The mayor said that applying for and receiving the CDBG grant is yet another way West Orange's municipal government can provide better service and reduce costs.

“These improvements are integral to the revitalization of our downtown district," Parisi said. "As home to the Thomas Edison National Historic site, tens of thousands of visitors come to West Orange each year.

"We need to start thinking of our town as a tourist destination and we need to support our downtown businesses to draw more people to the Main Street corridor.”