ERVING — A study of Erving Center by a University of Massachusetts Amherst architecture class mainly yielded suggestions about making the area more pedestrian friendly and leveraging Erving’s outdoor recreation resources to make the town a greater tourist destination.
The study was a semester-long project for a senior-level architecture class. Much of the class’ research involved community meetings with local stakeholder groups, including business owners, residents, seniors and Erving Elementary School students.
The class presented its findings and suggestions in a remote meeting with the Selectboard last week. The bulk of the presentation involved ideas for improving Erving Center’s infrastructure, and for better capitalizing on existing resources by renovating old buildings and structures.
“I’m very impressed by the study and all the work that was done,” said Selectboard member Bill Bembury. “I only wish Erving Center was larger so we could incorporate all we’ve seen tonight. I didn’t see one thing that wouldn’t work.”
The class’ project was curtailed somewhat by the outbreak of the coronavirus in mid-March. But, by that point, most of the outreach had been finished, and the class still had enough information to design its proposals, according to professor Erika Zekos, who is also the director of the undergraduate architecture program at UMass Amherst.
Unfortunately, one piece of the project was cut: a public art installation that the UMass class had hoped to design in collaboration with Erving Elementary School students.
Many of the issues the class found in Erving Center, based on stakeholder responses, involve Route 2. The road is a safety problem: it’s a state highway, so vehicles travel fast; but it passes through a small, residential neighborhood, and locals find it difficult to cross safely.
At the same time, the class noted Route 2 is a great opportunity to capitalize on Erving’s existing outdoor recreation resources, and makes Erving Center accessible enough that there may be potential to brand it as a destination.
To that end, the class’ suggestions included ideas for making Route 2 and the surrounding areas more walkable and bikeable; converting older, unused structures into tourist attractions; and capitalizing on underused green spaces, especially Riverfront Park.
While the following ideas are not formal proposals for development, Erving Planning Assistant Mariah Kurtz said it would be relatively easy to flesh out any of them into a grant proposal.
“This takes a lot of the legwork out of coming up with ideas,” Kurtz said.
Selectboard members noted the ideas seemed to meet their goals of improving Erving’s image and drawing tourists to town.
“I’m sold. I’m on board and ready to get to work,” Bembury said. “After tonight I’m excited about moving forward. How can we move forward and make this a reality?”
The timeline for realizing any of these ideas would probably be within five to 10 years, Administrative Coordinator Bryan Smith said.
The class offered a design for wide sidewalks and bike lanes on either side of Route 2, with a “green barrier” of trees on at least one side, which would be visually attractive and provide a sound buffer against traffic.
Crosswalk locations were suggested, along with extensive designs for safety features like reflectors and “Yield to pedestrian” signs.
New bus stops were suggested at the intersections with Arch Street and Hanson Court. Designs were included for shelters with benches and interior lights powered by solar panels.
Smith said such ideas could feasibly be worked into future improvements by the state Department of Transportation, considering Route 2 is a state highway and the town does not have full control of it.
Signs with a unified visual style were proposed for different locations in Erving Center, including hiking markers in pedestrian-friendly areas. The class suggested these be made with materials consistent with the look of Erving Center, like wood and stone.
Flags on lamp posts were also suggested. These would feature images of recreational activities available in Erving.
The purpose of the signs, the class explained, would be as much to rebrand Erving as it would be to notify drivers of where they are. The students suggested many drivers passing through on Route 2 probably don’t know they are in Erving, much less that it may have interesting offerings.
Riverfront Park was identified as an underused resource that may have potential as a location for year-round event programming. This may include, as examples, a farmers market, an ice rink in the winter or an Independence Day carnival. The class added that turning some of these into traditions would further establish Erving as a destination.
Ideas for developing or better using existing outdoor spaces were also proposed, like updating and redesigning the veterans memorial, and improving the sitting area by Hanson Court.
Several old structures were suggested for potential reuse to cater to tourist traffic and community uses.
Options for the Usher Mill off of Arch Street include using it as a community space, with a public garden insulated in a greenhouse and a farmers market; or turning it into a more tourist-oriented space, with spaces for restaurants or a business that rents recreational equipment.
The Pearl B. Care building on West Main Street was suggested as a location for a bus stop, potentially with an information center, a cafe, a historical gallery and outdoor seating areas.
The water tower was also mentioned as a good historical symbol of Erving. It was noted that residents generally like it, but that it could use a fresh coat of paint, and that this may be an opportunity to design it while keeping with the suggested new signs in town. The area around it could also become a community green space with picnic tables and planter beds.