Selectmen Chairman Impressed With New Dedham Square

Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Mike Butler stood with a smile on his face during the ribbon cutting for the reopening of Dedham Square on Sunday.

After months of construction, the Dedham selectman was happy to see the completed project. 

“So many  people have worked so hard over the past 5-6 years to bring it to fruition,” Butler said. “We are really happy with the results.”

Butler said the town will look to add more street furniture in the Spring and make final decisions on the parking fees, but believes people are already enjoying the new improvements.

“People like that it's updated, that it’s cleaner and there’s places for people to sit and gather,” he said.  “If you come down here you’ll see people using the benches.  There’s people of all ages.” 

Butler said he believed the old square was run down and needed the improvements and was glad that residents approved the plan at Town Meeting.

On Saturday, during the Square’s weekend grand reopening celebration, the chairman said he was happy to see residents enjoying the downtown center. 

“The place was packed. he said.  “Parking lots were full, movies, the restaurants.  It was really nice to see.  People may not remember clearly, but the square needed this.”

The construction project was started in Spring of 2012 and according to the Dedham Square Circle's website, the following improvements were made: 

Safety:

·       Shorter crosswalks so pedestrians spend less time crossing the streets

·       Bump-outs for better visibility between pedestrians and drivers

·       Installation of new traffic signals at High Street and Eastern Avenue and at High Street and Washington Street

·       A completely redone municipal lot which added 20 more parking spots

Accessibility:

·       ADA-compliant brick-lined sidewalks and new curb cuts for improved safety and access for those with disabilities

Aesthetics:

·       More than 600 newly planted trees and shrubs

·       Energy-efficient LED versions of historic gas lamps

·       Herringbone brick crosswalks

·       Resurfacing of the Keystone Lot (municipal parking lot)