FARMINGTON — Selectmen on Tuesday, April 23, approved crosswalk art to be applied in 2025 as part of the local Rotary’s centennial celebration.

In 2025 Farmington Rotary will have been around for 100 years, Lisa Laflin, a Rotarian and owner of Wears and Wares, said. She came before the board previously to share information about the project, wanted a formal vote from the board.

Rotary would supply the paint in accordance with any rules and regulations from Department of Transportation or the town, Laflin said. The crosswalks call attention to community efforts, she noted.

“Rotarians would engage Rotarians, community members and local artists to help in the creation of the artwork and in painting the crosswalks,” she noted. “One specially designated crosswalk would be designed and painted by youth.”

Farmington Rotary has several Rotaract clubs for youths grade two through college, one of only a few with that honor, Laflin said. “They are extraordinarily active,” she stated.

Local law enforcement would direct traffic, allow safety for volunteers, Laflin noted. She proposed two scenarios.

One would feature a large Rotary wheel symbol at the intersection of Broadway and Main Street with painted crosswalks near Reny’s and Farmington House of Pizza, plus crosswalks on Main Street near Superior Court and by the Post Office and Dunkin’ Donuts. The other would be less ambitious, feature art on all four Main Street and Broadway crosswalks plus the other locations listed above.

“I definitely think it is a great idea,” Selectman Byron Staples said. He asked when the paving planned for Main Street would happen.

Public Works Director Phil Hutchins said he would work with the project engineer, coordinate so the painting takes place after the paving project.

“It will be a great opportunity to get the officers out,” Police Chief Kenneth Charles replied when asked about law enforcement’s help with the project. “It will be a little bit of a staffing challenge, just to make sure people are there. I am happy to support it.”

Rotary clubs across the country are doing crosswalk art, Hutchins said. “I have seen some in Utah, they are three-dimensional,” he noted. “They act not just as a crosswalk, they also act like a traffic calming device as well.”

Having that visibility is key, slows drivers down, Charles agreed.

Chair Joshua Bell preferred the first scenario. Staples felt either could work.

The vote was to allow either scenario. Selectman Dennis O’Neil is also a Rotarian and abstained from voting.

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