Since completion of the area growth and renewal strategic plan in early October, Reimagine Chatham has turned its attention to “Phase 2”, a process for implementing recommendations contained in the plan’s vision for community improvements. A new steering committee, consisting of representatives from civic groups, the town, local businesses, and service organizations, has been formed to work on this phase. Unlike the first phase, the effort will not be totally led by volunteers. Given the amount of work required, the group will be led by a firm that can routinely devote time to planning, prioritizing, and coordinating the effort. An interim contract has been drawn up with a Chatham company, River District Consulting. They will be supported by the organizations represented on the steering committee.
This week, the group announced a major milestone in moving ahead with the community improvement initiatives. A local Trust awarded Reimagine Chatham a grant in the amount of $146,450 to begin work on a variety of high-priority study recommendations.
The funding will allow work to begin on a feasibility study for a designated walking trail, help develop a town “brand” that can be used for marketing and public relations, help fund the management of the effort, and provide funds to assist the town in a number of areas, pending council approval. The town projects include improvements at Silas Moore Park, Harris Field, and clean-up and beautification of the town entry point on Highway 57 West. Funds also will support revisions to the town’s historic district, pending the results of an ongoing feasibility study.
Area residents should begin seeing the results of these efforts in early 2025. Work under the grant funding is to be completed by September 1, 2025.
Those who are not presently signed up for routine progress updates can go to ReimagineChatham.org and register for email updates as the work proceeds.