SIDNEY — Sidney Alive is an organization focusing its efforts on Sidney’s downtown region. It exists to strengthen the core of Sidney’s downtown culture by fostering economic development, historic preservation and community events that engage the public through the entrepreneurial spirit of residents and businesses. With an organization fund recently created at the Community Foundation of Shelby County, this will be the group’s first Match Day.
“We plan to use Match Day gifts for way-finding, place-making and beatification projects in our downtown,” said Executive Director Amy Breinich. “As the trailhead for the Great Miami Riverway and the core of Sidney and Shelby County, we feel those three efforts are particularly important to the success of our downtown. We will work with the city of Sidney, Shelby County Commissioners and private investors to create spaces in our downtown that are a source of pride for our citizens and a destination for our visitors.”
The first item on Sidney Alive’s list is to use Match Day gifts to clarify and beautify parking areas so patrons will have a clearer idea of where to park and when some extra spaces are available for public use. It would include working with the city to develop signage, landscaping and lighting to make parking areas and alleyways inviting and pedestrian-friendly.
Next, if enough gifts are received, the group hopes to develop wayfinding signage that would indicate where to find businesses, attractions and parking around the downtown. While Sidney Alive will spearhead the coordination of the projects, a public-private partnership will make it happen.
“We are also looking into the beautification of the downtown pedestrian areas to make our downtown more walkable and friendly,” added Breinich. “Various projects will incorporate some common elements such as flowers and new banners for light poles and some innovative crosswalk art, which can help slow traffic and make it safer to cross the streets.”
To support Sidney Alive on Match Day, gifts must be made payable to the Community Foundation of Shelby County with: Match/Sidney Alive noted on the memo or in an accompanying note or form. Details and forms are available at the Community Foundation website at commfoun.com and at Sidney Alive’s office at 109 S. Ohio Ave. Gifts must be received on or before Dec. 3 to be eligible for up to $5,000 in matching money.
