Streetscape Enhancement
Wesley Plaza

By early November 2004, the concrete sidewalks and roadway asphalt were removed.

By late November, the new curb ramps were finished and the brick paver sidewalks were nearly complete.

With the decorative pattern of brick pavers installed, the roadway reopened to traffic and parking in January.

Finished Wesley Plaza

By February 2005, the first "bricks and mortar" payoff from the Township's Streetscape Enhancement Plan was nearly complete. Wesley Plaza, the section of Wesley Avenue just off Easton Road in Glenside, has been transformed into a perfect milieu for special events to showcase the local business district.

Construction began October 2004. The roadway reopened for both traffic and parking in January 2005 and will remain open, except during special events. Colored, textured pavers replaced boring blacktop and cement to create a decorative pattern on the street and widened sidewalks for café tables and possibly a kiosk. In the spring and summer pedestrian-oriented ornamental luminaries and illuminated bollards for low-level lighting were installed, as well as new street trees, trash receptacles, recycling containers and benches to enhance the overall ambiance. The Township is still seeking corporate sponsorship to finance the crowning touch: an impressive 26½-foot arched gateway sign spanning the plaza entrance off Easton Road.

A "grand opening" ceremony will be included with the 2005 Glenside Street Fair.

Future Enhancements
A $300,000 Montgomery County Revitalization Grant funded the majority of the Wesley Plaza project. Another county grant for $240,000, combined with a $500,000 PennDOT Hometown Streets Grant, will extend similar enhancements – including pavers, ornamental lighting, benches and street trees – along Easton Road. Phase I, expected to begin this fall, will encompass Mt. Carmel Avenue to Waverly Road. The Township is currently applying for another grant to extend the enhancements from Waverly Road to Springhouse Lane under Phase II in 2006.

You can help make the Easton Road transformation a reality and become an indelible part of the Glenside community by purchasing brick pavers, trees or benches for the district.  "Hit the Bricks" Program brochure. (PDF)

The remaining four designated commercial districts – Cheltenham Village, East Cheltenham Avenue, Elkins Park East and Elkins Park West – will see enhancements begin to appear over the next several years. Preparation of the construction documents for Elkins Park East enhancements will begin this year.

For more information, contact the Main Street Manager.