Pavilion turns the page on the Green

by Sue Serdinak

Twenty years ago, during the final year of Mayor Don Larsen’s term as mayor, Richfield Village purchased and razed four small buildings at the intersection of routes 303 and 176, with the hope of turning the corner into a public gathering space.  Village officials took another step forward this year and authorized the construction of a pavilion and a paved walkway throughout the “Green.”

Council President Ralph Waszak proposed a design for the pavilion similar to one that he saw in Floyd, Virginia.  Village landscape designer Rob Morgan and the planning department, under Brian Frantz, took the plans and altered them slightly to fit the needs of the village for a band venue. They also copied the highly praised timber frame structure inside The Richfield Brewing Company building that has been under construction for almost two years.

The pavilion was completed in less than a month so that it could serve as a band shelter for the summer concerts on the Green. The final days of construction and grass seeding were hampered by rain. However, Mayor Michael Wheeler and village council members cut the ribbon on the pavilion on May 29, and the band Swizzle Sticks, a local favorite, made it a welcoming hometown event.

More changes for this central area are planned. According to Waszak, council has engaged the village engineer to provide plans to rework the 303/176 intersection, with curbing and turn lanes. No timeline has been determined for the work.  ∞

Contractors worked as quickly as possible, even on rainy days, to complete work on the new pavilion. Photo by S. Serdinak.

Photo (main/above): Mayor Michael Wheeler and council members cut the ribbon on the new pavilion on May 29. Photo by S. Serdinak.