Wintergarden Plaza
JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council Monday night gave its approval to endorse a grant application that could help to add improvements to the Wintergarden Plaza.
The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation (JRC) is the entity that is applying for a state Environmental Protection Fund grant to help pay for the cost of Phase II of the plaza, but in order to be considered for the funding the hosting municipality is also required to formally give its endorsement for the project.
If approved the money would be used to add a canvas canopy system to help provide some shelter for live performances at the plaza, as well as for anyone who may want to use the plaza as a meeting place or for a spot to have lunch outdoors. The project would also see improved lighting, new benches and a bike rack.
The plaza sites on the location of the former Wintergarden Theater on N. Main St. between Third and Fourth Streets and was first put into use in 2011. Since then it has been used as a venue for outdoor concerts and other downtown events and activities. City Development Director Vince DeJoy says it’s definitely added to the attraction of downtown.
“It’s exactly the prescription for what downtown Jamestown needs – more events, more activities to bring people downtown,” DeJoy said Monday night. “We’re just happy to partner with the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation and all they do to help bring more people downtown, having a good time, and getting them to come back.”
JRC had applied for state funding for the project last year as well through the competitive Consolidated Funding Application process, but it wasn’t designated a high-priority project compared to others in the area that applied and as a result didn’t receive funding.
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