It’s a step up for Brewster Gardens. A series of steps, to be precise.
For years, people were able to walk through the park and climb stairs at the Emond Building to Main Street Extension. But over time, the stairs – which connected to the outdoor terrace of Café Strega – fell into disrepair and were eventually blocked off after becoming a safety hazard. The result was one more obstacle to connecting the waterfront with downtown, an access issue merchants and tourism officials have long lamented.
Now, years after the project was first introduced, work is finally underway to build new stairs adjacent to the building, on town property. The price, however, is hefty – about $164,000 for the concrete walkway, according to Nick Faiella, Plymouth’s parks and forestry superintendent.
The stairs will start near the Maiden Pond statue in Brewster Gardens – one of Plymouth’s scenic jewels – and ascend to the sidewalk on the bridge that crosses over Town Brook at Main Street Extension.
“This access will allow people to stroll through the park and then head up into the downtown area where they can enjoy some of downtown’s restaurants, markets, boutiques, and historical landmarks,” Faiella said in an email.
Now, pedestrians have to walk up Leyden Street to reach downtown, which means backtracking from Maiden Pond through the park.
Faiella said the project is expected to be finished in early February, “with the possibility of finishing in January.”
Mark Pothier can be reached at mark@plymouthindependent.org.