HOLLY LOCK
New gates in downtown Clayton improve safety and appearances.
CLAYTON -- Area residents have another improvement to be proud of in downtown. The downtown development office installed three gates in alleyways on Main Street to beautify the area and promote safety.
"We haven't had any problems with safety," said Downtown Development Coordinator Bruce Naegelen, "but we don't want to wait until we do."
The wrought iron gates serve to cordon off alleys by connecting the buildings. "Bruce (Naegelen) envisioned and implemented the effort, including getting building owner buy-in," said Town Manager Steve Biggs.
"We used aspects of the 'Welcome to Downtown Clayton' sign in the design of the gates," Naegelen said. The gates were manufactured by Darryl Gawthorpe of All American Wrought Iron Work located on Main Street. "Darryl did the work on the 'Welcome' sign. It is important to us to use our local businesses," he said.
The total cost of the project was $2,250. Funding came from the facade grant project. Naegelen continued, "We want to extend the brand through the downtown area, so you'll see more of the same look in future [development] projects."
The gates make the Main Street area safer by cutting off access to the area from dark, unlit alleyways and by eliminating the opportunities for would-be thieves to escape.
