Franklin needs some fire hydrants painted. Here's how residents can help
FRANKLIN — Whose design is going to pass with flying colors? Franklin hosts its first fire hydrant painting contest to encourage better care of and pride in a key piece of town infrastructure.
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“Most of us are geared to just ignore these things (fire hydrants) we drive and walk by, but this will draw some attention to the infrastructure and really get people thinking about water conservation and the efforts that go into putting water in those pipes,” said Jacob Standley, the town's assistant water and sewer superintendent.
Officials say applicants should let their imaginations run wild. Bright colors. Abstract designs. Fun patterns. Paintings can also be inspired by historic places, people and events in Franklin.
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Registration closes Friday. Applicants will learn whether their designs were selected by Aug. 19.
The Department of Public Works encourages people to submit whimsical, unique designs that will make people smile as they go about town.
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Application forms and detailed instructions can be found here.
Standley, as well as Water and Sewer Superintendent Doug Martin and Director of Public Works Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi, brainstormed several ideas to boost community involvement, increase residents' knowledge of the water system and lower the cost of labor to repaint them.
They noticed that other few communities have done similar ideas, so they decided to implement it in Franklin.
“It all came together in this project and we’re hoping for success,” Standley said.
Like many infrastructure projects, COVID-19 took a toll on the DPW’s capacity to address town upgrades.
“It’s a two-fold endeavor that began out of necessity due to the complications with COVID; (now) it’s limited staffing of a post-COVID world,” said Standley.
Hydrant painting efforts in the past couple years have “not really existed — we haven’t had the manpower or time,” he said.
There are more than 2,000 bare, fading fire hydrants in need of upgrades, but Standley does not have a cap on how many can be painted.
“If 2,000 people told me they wanted to paint hydrants, I’d like to paint 2,000 hydrants,” he said.
So far, the department has received more than a dozen applications. It hopes to get at least 20 more.
“It would be awesome and give us a good pool to draw from when we scatter them throughout town,” Standley said.
Winners “must create their designs and bring it all to life out on the road,” by Sept. 30, using their own art supplies, he added.
Nothing can be attached to the fire hydrant. And if artists wish to modify their designs, they must get approval from the town.
During the first week of September, the Public Works Department's Facebook page will host online voting. A picture of each fire hydrant will be posted, with everyone getting a chance to vote for their favorite as part of a poll.
Judging will take place from Oct. 3-7, with winners announced Oct. 15 at the DPW Touch a Truck event. Awards will be issued for Most Creative, Most Patriotic, Most Whimsical and Judges’ Choice.
Standley wants to make Franklin’s fire hydrants “something that residents and neighborhoods are more proud to have.”
This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Franklin hosts first fire hydrant painting event; here's how to apply
