Voting open to last round of downtown bracket

In the final round of the Winchester Downtown Bracket, Clark County residents must decide between installing a shade canopy or a parklet this summer.

After two weeks of voting, the bracket is down to the top two projects.

Rachel Alexander, executive director of Main Street Winchester, said the winning project will be announced by Friday.

Winchester residents can vote with donated school supplies, such as pencils, binders and more, or toiletries, such as toothpaste, hair brushes and more, through Wednesday in the boxes placed in front of 29 S. Main St.

Place supplies in the red box as a vote for the shade canopy or place the supplies in the green box as a vote for the parklet.

Donations benefit the Rowland Arts Center.

The shade canopy would be a temporary artistically-designed canopy above the sidewalk. Many cities have installed canopies consisting of a variety of materials from white Christmas lights to umbrellas and beach balls. The materials shade the sidewalk while also providing visual interest and creating a cohesive pedestrian experience, according to the project proposal.

Parklets act as public space activators in cities across the country. Transforming an on-street parking space to public use can achieve several goals, from traffic calming to supporting local businesses that can activate the area. These spaces can range wildly in terms of design, from temporary installations to permanent pieces of the public realm.

Each of the projects are intended to cost less than $5,000 and the winning project will be installed during the summer.

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