Mantua – Springtime has brought splashes of color to Mantua Village, and it’s got nothing to do with the season’s blooms or new leaves. The colorful addition is in the shape of vibrant yellow and blue sun sails that have been installed by the Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation (DMRC) to provide shade and visual interest in the heart of the village. The Mini Plaza Renovation Committee, headed by Paula Tubalkain, chose to renew the plaza as a step towards bringing vitality back to Mantua Village.
She noted that the DMRC felt that since the area faced south and had no natural shade, the area was too hot and uncomfortable to be used during the heat of the day. Since many residents and area visitors’ purchase take out food at Shaeffer Meats and Jake’s Market, the upgraded area will offer an ideal place within the Village to sit outside and enjoy lunch. New outdoor benches, a table and chairs were added late last summer in anticipation of the installation of the sails. With the Restoration 44 coffee house opening soon adjacent to the newly-appointed outdoor space, people will certainly take advantage of the village’s newest outdoor area.
The sails are the most recent step in their quest to update the area. In addition, new “Welcome to Mantua” banners, also purchased by DMRC, have been mounted on village light poles. The new banners feature the DMRC’s new logo that features a silhouetted tree and path on a gold background. The graphics represent the wealth of recreational opportunities that abound in Mantua; the Cuyahoga River, the Headwaters Trail, the Esker Trail and the Mantua Bog.
Downtown Mantua Revitalization is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support the work of the Village of Mantua and take on projects designed to revitalize the village. In addition to these most-recent projects, the DMRC has contributed matching grant funds to help finance the reconstruction of the walking trail at Buchert Park, the Mill Street Connector for the Headwaters Trail and the construction of a sidewalk south of the village.
