Discover Englewood 2023
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1491872
PIONEER PLAZA The first of the two projects to start and be completed, was the redesign and development of the home of the community's public gatherings – the square patch of land now known officially as Pioneer Plaza. The plaza, which has hosted concerts, food festivals and weekly farmers markets for years, was shut down for several months so workers could add new pathways and landscape, lighting, permanent restrooms and, at the center of it all, build the spacious new Dignam Family Stage. The new space is getting rave reviews all around, including from Jerry Sparkman, who designed the stage. Shortly after the ribbon-cutting ceremony in May, Sparkman listened to local band Off the Cuff as they played their version of the old Pure Prairie League song "Amy" on acoustic guitars and mandolin. As he listened, Sparkman gave his thumbs-up to the new band shell. "You can hear it's balanced," he said. "This should be everything they want in the sound." To put a bow on top of the plaza – or actually off to the side – members of the Leadership Englewood Class of 2022 raised funds for and commissioned a 40- foot "Greetings from Englewood" mural on a formerly bare wall that faces the plaza grounds. Since its reopening in the fall of 2022, the plaza has been host to several events, including a Neil Diamond tribute concert, a holiday festival and the weekly Olde Englewood Village Farmers Market. Gatherings of one kind or another are planned for the weeks and months ahead. HISTORIC STREET, NEW LOOK The second project – much larger and more complicated – was the streetscaping of West Dearborn Street, from one end to the other. Workers spent 16 months digging up the old and creating the new, and the business district now sports a cleaner, updated roadway, complete with new parking, sidewalks, lights, benches and crossworks. The crowning touch is another instant Englewood landmark, a specially designed archway sign spanning West Dearborn Street, and welcoming everyone to the heart of the community. The $7.6 million streetscape project, performed by Wright Construction and overseen by the Kimley-Horn engineering firm, had its official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 10, where it received rave reviews from all attending. Richard Jean, Suncoast Central Realty & Property Management owner, has been making pizza since he was 14. During the construction work on West Dearborn Street, Jean pulled up and made a dozen pizza pies for construction workers as a way to thank them for their e orts. SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH The vegetable stalls at the Olde Englewood Farmers Market feature all kinds of vegetables, including squashes, sweet potatoes, peppers, citrus, herbs, lettuces and spinach and more. The market and others are open Thursdays on West Dearborn Street, October through May. PHOTO BY CHRIS PORTER Below, The Olde Englewood Village Farmers Market is back at the Pioneer Plaza, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Englewood Sunset. The market is the largest of several held each Thursday on and o West Dearborn Street. SUN PHOTO BY PETER TAVINO 9 2023 Discover Englewood