Success On One NA Thoroughfare Feeds Into Revitalization of Ashland St.

The Berkshire Eagle  reports  the group behind Eagle Street's aesthetic revival scored another victory this week when it surpassed a fundraising goal for beautification efforts on Ashland Street.

The Ashland Street Initiative surpassed the $12,500 benchmark well ahead of its May 30 deadline, raising $14,592 through Thursday morning. In doing so, the effort will receive a matching $12,500 grant from MassDevelopment, the state's economic development agency.

The crowd sourced funding will be applied to a number of improvement projects, including installation of bicycle racks and pedestrian flags to make crossing the street easier, the planting of trees and a new mural.

The Ashland Street Initiative is the second such endeavor by the NAMAzing Initiative, a community-focused volunteer group. In 2017, it raised more than $35,000 for improvements to Eagle Street that have included new business signs, a small mobile "parklet" that takes up two parking spaces and new waste receptacles.

The goal is to help make Ashland Street not only prettier, but more friendly to pedestrians and cyclists.