Darlene serves as director of Main Street Russellville and is also a member of Russellville City Council.

“Bricks, Patience and a Beautiful Downtown’”are the three elements that Main Street Russellville (MSR) is hoping to achieve as they begin the Russellville Streetscape Project. This past fall the downtown historic shopping district began its dramatic transformation as many of the buildings were painted, repaired and new awnings installed.

Bricks - If you have recently been in a city that has undergone a renovation of their downtown business district then you have probably seen brick sidewalks that have engraved pavers scattered throughout. MSR is kicking off, with this article, the “Bricks of Honor Walkway” program that allows you to purchase an engraved brick to be placed along the walkway.

The purchase of a brick is the perfect way to commemorate a family member or a friend who has been part of Russellville’s unique history, or mark the birth of a child, or a high school class, an anniversary, past and present businesses, Civic Clubs, Churches, our military, or a lifetime achievement - all of these, and more, can be memorialized on a brick.

Each brick will be engraved, per your request, and laid in the sidewalk of Downtown Russellville. Each business entrance will be highlighted with a brick walkway so that will enable you to select the business that your brick will be placed in front of - the old Trunk, Main Street Salon, the old Colony House, Ariella, Atmos Energy, Holland CPA, Democratic Headquarters, Cash in a Flash, Shoppe on the Square, Laser Copy, Republican Headquarters, the old Helen’s Dress Shop and the old Southern Deposit Bank.

Applications for the bricks can be picked up at either: the 4^th Street Theater, City Hall, the Logan County Chamber of Commerce or Riley-White Drugs - then the completed application can be left with your payment at each of these locations or mailed back to Main Street Russellville at 164 East 4^th Street, Russellville 42276.

Patience - What is the Russellville Streetscape Project - you ask? The first phase of the project will begin at 5^th & Main (at the old Trunk) and go down the sidewalk to the corner of 4^th & Main (at the location of the old Southern Deposit Bank). The sidewalks will be demolished (with electric & telephone lines placed underneath) and replaced with new concrete, but the biggest change will be seen at the entrance of every business where they will be highlighted with brick pavers, set into sand, the curbing will be detailed in Belgian block and the crosswalks will be slightly raised with brick pavers (the crosswalks will not be a part of this phase of the project).

NOTE: During the demolition of the sidewalks the businesses will remain open with walkways into each building created so that our businesses will not be affected.

This project will take a few months and we realize that it will create an imposition to the business owners, as well as the shoppers but we ask that you are patient with us throughout this process.

A Beautiful Downtown - Many communities across the United States endure the upheaval of a streetscape project because of the positive benefit that it will give to their downtown area. By creating an appealing downtown area MSR feels that it will entice the shopper (whether local or from out of town) to come into our shops and spend their monies. We also hope that they will go home and tell others about what we have to offer, as well as the beautiful surroundings of our city as they walk our sidewalks.

Scattered throughout, will be acorn style lampposts (that will have a place for banners and/or hanging baskets to be attached) with matching black wrought iron benches, trashcans, planters and landscaped areas. Even the stop signs, street signs and traffic signal will have a different look.

Once this part of the project is completed we will hopefully be able to begin the next phase of the streetscape project which will be from the old Duncan’s Drugstore down to Hargis CPA. By the time we are finished the entire downtown area will have a sparkly new appearance.

Main Street Russellville would like to thank each of you in advance for your patience and if you have any questions or concerns regarding this streetscape project please feel to contact Main Street Russellville at 270-726-1303 or at pizzazzonmainstreet@yahoo.com.