Village Green Project (2014 LGAA)

Village of Pawling
County: Dutchess County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (845) 855-1122

The Pawling Village Green Project was a creation of a central Green with new sidewalks and pathways in keeping with the vision of the Village's Comprehensive Plan. It was designed in a style reminiscent of a traditional New England village in order to attract new shoppers and tourists, to increase the economic well-being of businesses and residents and to form a beautiful center for community events.

The Village Green Project took a sloped area that was previously unusable and brought it up to level with a main thoroughfare allowing the Village to create a people-friendly, visually pleasing center for the Village. The project included sidewalk bump-outs and extensions; shortened crosswalk distances; a bandstand; and the relocation of monuments, the village clock and flag.

The Village Green has centralized community events bringing in new shoppers who attend the event and then stay on to visit the local businesses, including a Farmer's Market that has taken up residence on the Green in the spring and summer.

The Village worked with the Pawling Community Foundation (a group of residents) which was the fundraising arm of the project -- funded entirely with grants and donations.