Wilmington, Ohio

BUT WE’RE STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

Street construction this summer - these are words no one wants to hear – and it is especially difficult when it involves city streets.  The orange barrels have popped up as quickly as the flowers with the early spring, and along with the flowers, the city street construction projects got a jump-start.

Thanks to federal stimulus money, the City of Wilmington will be getting much-needed repairs to Main Street, Locust Street, North South Street and Xenia Avenue.  These repairs will include curbs and gutters along with new sidewalks along most of these streets. State funding assistance will mean that Nelson Avenue will finally be finished this spring and Prairie Avenue will receive a long awaited widening and the addition of sidewalks.  All these improvements have long been needed and the state and federal funds have finally become available in 2010.

Improvements in the downtown will not just be limited to the streets – watch for new signage - funded by downtown grant dollars.  New signage, new paving, and with the by-pass completion, there should be quite a transformation in Wilmington.

No one wants or likes the delays these projects will bring, but the improvements will be well worth the wait.  We all need to practice patience – yes, it is inconvenient and yes, it is a pain. We all can sometimes be terribly impatient. But you will get to your destination and you will still be able to get to the festivals, fairs, parties and events – just plan ahead and be patient. Most, if not all the construction happens during the week, so travel through town on the weekends for the festivals should not be an issue.

Shopping in downtown Wilmington and shopping locally is still very important to the local economy. Come downtown to shop – there is ample off-street parking. The few extra steps from your parking spot to the store will be no different than the same steps you make to go into the mall. You also can get to all your shopping on the east side of town - it may just take a bit longer.  Businesses in Wilmington will still be offering their same wonderful products and incentives.  

While your drive through Wilmington may be a bit slower this summer, take the time to enjoy the beauty of some of the historic homes – take time to really enjoy the architecture of our downtown buildings – and plan ahead – you’ll get there in plenty of time.