Roslindale Village Main Street Launches Crowdfunding Campaign

Roslindale Village Main Street (RVMS) has launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the Poplar Street Improvement Project, a beautification and improvement project for the Poplar Street sidewalk that runs alongside Adams Park in the heart of Roslindale Village.

Utilizing the Patronicity platform, RVMS seeks to raise $25,000 by November 22, 2018. If the campaign reaches its goal, the project will win a $25,000 matching grant from MassDevelopment and a supplemental $5,000 from the Boston Main Streets Foundation.

“While many blocks in Roslindale have benefited from numerous improvement projects, the Poplar Street stretch of sidewalk between South and Corinth Streets, across from Adams Park suffers from neglect and fails to serve as an attractive pedestrian way,” said Alia Hamada Forrest, Executive Director of Roslindale Village Main Street. “This initiative will brighten Poplar Street, add attractive design elements, and make other material improvements. Such enhancements to this popular thoroughfare will draw increased foot traffic to local businesses and instill a sense of community pride among the people of Roslindale.”

This project will link Poplar Street to Adams Park, adding needed space for people to gather and interact during community events at the park, such as the weekly Farmers’ Market. With funds from this campaign, RVMS plans to:

• Work with local artists to paint sidewalk murals to beautify the street.
• Add seating that will encourage people to rest, eat, converse, and mingle;
• Add planters to sidewalks and seating areas in order to create a more pleasant and beautiful environment;
• Place bicycle racks to support increased bicycle traffic and reduce parking needs;
• Install new recycling and trash containers to reduce litter;
• Install decorative lighting to better illuminate the sidewalk at night; and
• Add lighting and improved wayfinding to the informational kiosk.

“Roslindale’s Main Street district has become the bustling, vibrant, heart of the neighborhood because of their focus on revitalization projects and improvement to the public realm. Local businesses have thrived because of thoughtful investments like these that fully connect Roslindale Village’s commercial core,” said Joel Sklar, Board Chair of the Boston Main Streets Foundation.

Learn more about the Poplar Street Improvement Project and donate to the campaign at www.patronicity.com/poplar.

About Roslindale Village Main Street

Roslindale Village Main Street (RVMS) was established in 1985 as one of the first urban Main Street Programs in the nation to promote Roslindale Village as an appealing destination and the dynamic center of our community. As an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, we bring together local volunteers, businesses and public agencies to strengthen the Village’s economic vitality, physical appearance and unique local character. Learn more at www.roslindale.net.

About the Boston Main Streets Foundation

The Boston Main Streets Foundation is committed to making Boston's neighborhood commercial districts thriving, vibrant centers of commerce and community through its support of the Boston Main Streets program. The Boston Main Streets Foundation seeks to develop long-term strategies to increase the economic power and resources of neighborhood commercial districts while pursuing initiatives that build knowledge and capacity for Main Streets programs and the businesses they serve. Boston Main Streets Foundation raises corporate, private, public, and foundation support and awareness, develops renewable income streams for local Boston Main Streets organizations and provide funding opportunities to each Boston Main Streets districts. Learn more at www.bostonmainstreets.org.