Word on the Street: Floating patios get beautified as downtown Augusta efforts ramp up

“To see downtown come to life again. We are gearing up for some fun stuff.”

That’s Michael Hall, executive director of the Augusta Downtown Alliance, who is pretty happy with the way downtown headed over the last few years.

As part of a way to offer more seating outside in downtown last year during the pandemic, the city of Augusta offered sidewalk floating patios. This year some local businesses signed up to have them again. Hall, along with the Downtown Alliance and Central Church, partnered to make them more “pretty” looking.

“We wanted to make them more attractive than last year,” said Hall. “Make the space a little oasis and a very inviting space. We thought if we are going to have them, we will beautify these.”

Central Church contributed $500, and the Augusta Downtown Alliance put in several hundred. Raging Bull Saloon co-owner Brad Wallace also works as a carpenter and was hired to build the plant boxes to surround the floating patio.

And with a couple volunteers, including some from Lisa’s Legit Burritos, they planted the boxes.

Freshly installed floating patio by the City of Augusta and locally made and planted flower boxes from the Augusta Downtown Alliance and Central Church. Wrapped Up Coffee House contributed photo

Hall attributes the success of the downtown, especially during the pandemic, to the city opening up Water Street to two-way traffic in 2019.

As a way to help save local businesses during the pandemic, Downtown Alliance and Gardiner Main Street pooled $5,000 from each of their boards, and raised $40,000 more, and split the sum — 13 Augusta businesses and 13 in Gardiner, each received $3,000.

Next up for Downtown Alliance are Movies in the Park, kicking off July 22 with “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.” This event is co-sponsored by the Children’s Discovery Museum. And their annual Halloween Trick-or-Treating will revert to past years’ format now that the coronavirus restrictions are lifted. Last year they were able to still hold the event, drive up style.

This year they plan to have vendors, candy booths, dancers, bands and more.

Word on the Street is an online-only feature about trending happenings in central Maine. If you have an idea for our next Word on the Street, email Amber Carter at ambercarter@mainetoday.com.