Don Podolski of New Horizons Bikes urges downtown businesses to prepare to welcome Rail Trail users at Chamber meeting on Monday, as Chamber Director Kate Phelon and Community Development Director Peter J. Miller listen. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Westfield hosted its quarterly Downtown Merchants meeting at the First United Methodist Church on Monday, where Don Podolski, owner of New Horizons Bikes on Franklin St. encouraged merchants to prepare to welcome visitors from the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail downtown.
“It’s impressive to see how other communities are benefitting,” said Chamber Executive Director Kate Phelon.
Podolski said the central downtown section of the Rail Trail will be out to bid this year, and construction will take place over the next two seasons, with an expected completion in 2021. He said the rail trail has already been downtown for two years with the access point at Stop & Shop, where riders can go 32 miles south to Farmington, CT. He also said funding is in place in CT to complete a nine mile gap, and when finished, the trail will stretch 60 miles to New Haven.
“Hopefully, everyone in here has been on the trail,” Podolski said, adding that the northern section is also now completed with the trestle over the river to Women’s Temperance Park. He said last year, the Friends of the CGRT bought three infra-red counters, and tracked at least 40,000 users from May to December on the trail, with close to 1,000 every Saturday and Sunday.
Podolski said the bikers are looking for stops, recreation, attractions, and restaurants. He said businesses need to create a comfort zone for cyclists, such as installing bicycle racks. New Horizon Bikes donated two to the city last year, one placed at Blue Umbrella Books and one on School Street. The Westfield Athenaeum also put up bike racks as part of its renovations.
Community Development Director Peter J. Miller said the city recently gave a beautification grant to Circuit Coffee, which they are going to use to install a bike rack shaped “01085” for the front of their cafe.
Podolski said wayfinding signage will also be important. He said merchants should view the rail trail as a turnpike with exit points. “If you don’t know what’s available, you probably won’t stop,” he said.
Although signs to specific businesses can’t be erected on the rail trail, Podolski said there are other ways to advertise, such as adopting a section of the trail to keep clear of trash, marked with a sign and business logo. He said currently there is only one business, Lane Construction that has adopted a section of the trail in Westfield. Other ways would be to adopt amenities, such as a flower bed or bluebird houses.
Another way for businesses to get involved is Bike Week in May, which kicks off with a Mayor’s Bike Ride, and makes stops downtown, Podolski said.
He said an organization called People for Bikes is going to create a bicycle challenge on an app, which could include a coupon to a local business for bikers that complete the challenge. “It would be perfect to have a challenge every month in downtown,” Podolski said. He invited the merchants present to attend a Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail meeting on the third Tuesday of the month at the YMCA at 6:30 p.m., and to hit the trail.
“The idea is start thinking about it,” Podolski said.
Miller is also working on creating wayfinding signage for the downtown with a grant from the state for $25,000 secured by State Representative John Velis last year, although he said the total cost is estimated to be $75,000. He said these signs will be geared for traffic, and will direct cars to parking and to city attractions. Miller said he will be holding a focus group for downtown businesses to give input on the signage at Circuit Coffee on Jan. 28 at 6 p.m.
Phelon said the next quarterly Downtown Merchants meeting will be held in April, and will focus on making plans for Small Business Saturday. She said the Chamber has ideas on how to promote the day as an event, but need to get started on the planning. She also said that all downtown merchants are invited to join the group, not just Chamber members.
