MARYSVILLE – Completion of the State Avenue improvement project is cause for celebration, and city officials will begin with a ribbon cutting Aug. 13, followed by the kickoff of the Marysville HomeGrown Festival.
There may be other celebrations as well.
“We’re just glad it’s coming to the end, and the businesses can get back to their stable revenues,” city chief administrative officer Mary Swenson said of the nearly year-long road project.
“We’re talking about other ways to celebrate it and want community input on what they’d like to see.”
Suggestions have included a block party, a barbecue, sidewalk sales – anything that will bring people downtown. City officials also are hoping for donations from businesses toward the celebration.
The $6.4 million road project has beautified downtown, but has been hard on businesses because construction made it difficult for customers to get to them. The project is mostly winding up this month, although the final layer of pavement may not be laid until early August. The last touches will be completed shortly after that, including striping the road, which now is five lanes wide.
The ribbon-cutting will be at 9 a.m. Aug. 13 at Third Street and State Avenue.
“It helps to support the HomeGrown Festival,” Mayor Dennis Kendall said.
Already there are more than 70 booths lined up for the festival, although organizers still are accepting vendor applications. As the name implies, all items must be made or grown by hand. Commercial and imported items aren’t allowed. The cost is $55 for the two days.
This is the 19th year for the festival, sponsored by the Downtown Merchants Association. Merchants close a short stretch of Third east of State Avenue. The booths, offering arts and crafts, produce, flowers and food, will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There also will be street musicians and entertainers.
“This isn’t a money-making enterprise for the festival. We use the money for advertising and to put it on,” said festival spokeswoman Mary Burns.
To reserve a booth, call 360-659-4997 or 360-629-9695.
Reporter Cathy Logg: 425-339-3437 or logg@heraldnet.com.
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