The Downtown Cranford office is excited to announce that the parklets are back this summer, and thanks to the efforts from the Cranford community, they’re better than ever! “The new parklets are truly a community collaboration,” said DMC Board Chair Kristen Mider. “These parklets were a labor of love. The labor was provided by Cranford’s own MWT Builders LLC, who donated their time and talent to both plan and then construct the beautiful flower boxes. There simply would be no flower boxes without the generosity of Greg Wofsy, Kyle Roberts, and their hard-working team.
“Additionally, the Cranford Police Department, especially the Traffic Division, helped to ensure these parklets would happen and we’re indebted to CPD for its ongoing support of our downtown and its commitment to public safety. The Cranford DPW spent hours putting the concrete barriers in place and are truly some of the hardest working people around. There were also many DMC Board members who helped tremendously with the parklets. Tom Connolly, of Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects, LLC, was pivotal in creating the parklet design and spent hours measuring the spaces to ensure a smooth construction. Tom, along with fellow board members Dennis Concha (of Think D’sign Print) and property owner Paul La Corte, also helped with the painting, as did Cranford residents Brian McCarthy and the amazing Rebecca Tantillo (of FLAG). And the talented Marcy Duarte of Lemondrop Designs is to thank for the lovely Downtown Cranford signs on each planter.”
“And, of course, planters would be incomplete without the right plants in them. For those we are grateful to Jess Dreyer and her team at Dreyer Farms who selected plants that are pretty as well as hardy enough to last through the outdoor dining season. Also, thanks to my daughter, Mary Mider, who spent a sunny afternoon planting them.”
MWT owner Greg Wofsy stated, “As a Cranford resident, I’m proud to be a part of this effort by the Downtown Cranford office to assist restaurants by giving them expanded outdoor space. It’s nice to contribute something to the Downtown. Our team was excited to be a part of this. They’re Cranford residents and now when they come downtown they can take a seat, order a meal, and enjoy the fruits of their labor.”
Billy from Ambeli Greek Taverna is thrilled to have the restaurant’s parklet back this summer. “We can’t thank MWT Builders enough for transforming our parklet with the beautiful planters that decorate our outdoor dining area. We appreciate their generosity and love for the community, especially during these difficult times!”
We hope you find the parklets appealing and welcoming, and take advantage of how they expand outdoor dining options this summer. The parklets will be in place through October 31st. Thank you for your continued support of our downtown businesses! Stay tuned for more information on MWT Builders, coming up in the next few days!