BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — A major project is set to enhance the experience and appreciate the history of downtown Bowling Green.
The city's historic alleyways are slated to undergo a makeover thanks to a $100,000 American Rescue Plan Act grant awarded to the Downtown Bowling Green foundation.
Members of the foundation said the goal is to create beautiful and safe walkways to enhance the downtown Bowling Green experience for businesses and shoppers.
The downtown area can be a busy place with plenty of foot traffic, but most of the parking lots are located in the rear of the shops and businesses.
To get to the storefronts, many shoppers and patrons take the alleyways to a main street.
Local leaders say they want this experience to be safe and they want the patrons to enjoy the walk. With the new Alleyway Transformation Project, six alleys will be named and enhancements will include the addition of signage, public art, seating and lighting.
"This will name each alley a historic name," Kati Thompson, interim director of the Downtown BG Foundation, said. "It will create an archway sign so as people are parking, they can easily see the archway and understand that this is a good place for them to walk and reach main streets."
The two alleyways adjacent to Finders and Insomnia Cookies will be known as Dogleg Alley; the alleyway behind Wildflower Aesthetics will be named Union Alley; the alleyways located near the Mini Mall will be named Monarch Alley; Opera House Alley will be the southeast block of Main Street; and Black Swamp Alley is between Juniper and Becketts.
These names honor both the region's history and highlight businesses that were present during the founding years of Bowling Green.
"I wouldn't say that there's activity going on in the alley except for the activity that is already taking place which is a lot of pedestrian traffic," Thompson said. "It's just making the experience better for the people that are already using the walkways."
The foundation has already began planning for enhancements in different alleys to expand on to the current project.
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