Major renovation project for Continental Square in York to begin soon
According to a news release from York City, major improvements to Continental Square are scheduled to begin this week and will be funded by the Rotary Club of York.
Located at the intersection of Market and George Street, Continental Square has been the iconic center of York for well over two centuries.
The improvements aim to make the square more visibly attractive year-round as well as more pedestrian friendly. No city tax dollars will be used to pay for the project that will include new trees and lighting and the removal of a planter.
Improvements includes removal of the large trees from the planters. The city dates the trees at over 60 years old, and they are in poor health. Trees in planters generally have a healthy life of only 25 years, according the York City Bureau of Parks & Recreation.
The planter on the southeast corner of the Square will also be removed. This will create more open space for public events.
Another planter on this corner was removed about 10 years ago after it was contributing to damage to the underground comfort station beneath it that was once accessed by the visible stone staircases.
More on Continental Square plans: Can York’s comfort stations gain relief? ‘There are no perfect options.’
History on the square: Where exactly are those underground comfort stations on York, Pa.'s Continental Square?
During February and March, the Department of Public Works will be removing the stumps, roots and soil matter from the five remaining planters.
In late March, Trump Lawn & Landscape will create new landscape lighting, fill in the planters with new soil, and plant new landscaping, including flowering ornamental trees, low-growing shrubs, perennials, and three annual plantings.
Other improvements include better support for the traffic signals, the hanging of banners, and the display of the annual Christmas star. There is also a long-term plan to open up even more space on all corners of the Square. This includes removing light poles. Plenty of light will still maintain the Square as a safe atmosphere.
To keep costs down the city will be utilizing Public Works staff to remove the trees in the square, along with the stump, root mass and soil in each planter. Public Works staff also will be removing the planter on the Southeast corner of the square as well said Tom Landis, superintendent of Parks & Sanitation.
According to Landis, the project to renovate the five remaining planters including the landscape lighting covered by the Rotary Club of York will cost $24,728.
The annual maintenance for the planters, which will include watering, three seasonal annual plantings and re-mulching, will cost $8,266.66 per year and will be funded by an endowment at the York County Community Foundation.
If you want to contribute to the endowment, call 717-848-3733 or visit yccf.org.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Major renovation project for Continental Square in York PA begins soon
