Villa Rica’s downtown continues its own version of an “extreme makeover.”

Workers recently began constructing decorative sidewalks through downtown along the Norfolk Southern right of way as part of the second phase of a three-phase project.

The first phase completed last year was comprised of additional striped parking along the right-of-way on the north side of the railroad tracks that was undertaken by the city, while the second and third phases will be funded by the city’s Downtown Development Authority.

This second phase, which is expected to take six or seven weeks, uses brick-paver sidewalks to connect the railroad crossings at South Carroll Road and Cheeves Street with a public plaza near the existing pedestrian crossing between those two intersections. The area will also get new landscaping.

“Our goal for phase two is to transform the remaining area into an attractive park with sidewalks and landscaping that will anchor our downtown and act as a functional parking alternative to draw the two sides of downtown together,” said Pat Large, a member of the DDA’s design committee. “With this year’s budget, DDA will be able to complete all of phase two.”

The third phase will include a decorative aluminum rail fence with brick columns that will separate the sidewalk from the railroad tracks, as well as benches, trash receptacles, lighting, irrigation and additional landscaping.

“There is no doubt that these are tough economic times for everyone, and our city is no exception,” Large said. “As we see businesses struggling and some closing, it becomes even more important and necessary to do everything we can to continue to make our downtown an attractive, warm, welcoming and vibrant place to be.”

The project actually began many years ago when DDA Vice Chairman Bill Taylor recognized a need for more parking downtown and began negotiating with Norfolk Southern on a lease agreement to use its right of way. While those lengthy negotiations took place, illegal parking was already taking place in the area.

When Taylor first began his quest, Darlene Dickerson, owner of Meadow Creek Landscaping, was asked to put together a conceptual drawing that would eventually become the basis for the engineering specifications that are being used for the project.

“We wanted to create a pedestrian corridor for downtown,” Dickerson said. “We’re real excited about it and I think it’s going to be a great asset to the city.”

The project is in keeping with the recommendations of the Downtown Master Plan developed by the Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Development Center and adopted by the city in September 2007. That master plan stated that Villa Rica was fortunate to have a downtown area, particularly one with the potential to offer unique character and charm.

That same document recommended green space, stating that it would offer environmental, economic, aesthetic, social and psychological benefits to a downtown area.

“Studies have shown that shoppers will visit more frequently and stay longer if a downtown has green space,” Large said.