ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 21, 1995 TAG: 9512210070
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
Downtown Pulaski was advertised as an antiques center during its resurgence when most of its previously empty stores were being occupied.
There are still a few antiques dealers around, but some of those specialty stores have closed and others have shifted to other markets.
Pat Gooch, president of the Pulaski Business Alliance, told the town's Economic Development Board executive committee Wednesday that a new focus is needed on shopping downtown.
Besides antiques, she noted, there are framing, crafts, art, floral, fabric, collectibles, clothing, cafe, sports cards, comics, books, computer, appliance, pet, hobby, photography, glassware, hand-painted furniture, wedding and travel shops right in the downtown area, not to mention professional offices.
"When you look at the services available downtown, it's really rather massive," she said. But there are local people who have not shopped downtown for so long that they are unaware of the many changes. She said people have come into her Casimir Company store and said they had been unaware of it, even though it has been on Main Street for 11/2 years.
"We need local business first," Gooch said, and that means making Pulaski County residents aware of what is available.
Some of the enterprises, like the Count Pulaski Bed & Breakfast, depend on tourism business which the economic development organization is pushing. The alliance and economic board are seeking ways to work together, as they have with cooperative advertising, and to avoid duplicating each other's efforts.
"So many good things are happening and we're getting such good press that now is the time to jump on the train, so to speak," said Wayne Carpenter, committee vice chairman.
The committee also got an update from David Venne, one of its members, on plans to develop a playground on property owned by the Pulaski YMCA.
Signet Bank already has made a donation toward the project, Venne said. The fund-raising goal will be at least $60,000. "That represents one-third to one-half of what a commercially constructed playground of this type would cost," he said.
The national Leathers Co. will be hired to design and build the playground, with suggestions on what it should include from school children throughout Pulaski County. Visits will be made to all county elementary schools for kids' suggestions next year.
Leathers has built similar playgrounds in Blacksburg and Wytheville.
"We have the funds now to bring Leathers on board," Venne said. "The first part of the year, we'll get to the design phase."
This park will incorporate a walking trail which adults can use. "I truly believe that, once completed, the playground will be an attraction," Venne said. "Everywhere a playground is constructed, it does become a destination."
The biggest need now is for volunteers to work on the project, he said. They can get in touch with him at the Pulaski Golden Corral.
The Economic Development Board staff is developing a walking tour of Pulaski's historic district. The committee viewed a prototype put together by Keith Stafford, assistant to Economic Development Director Keith Matherly.
Meanwhile, new entrance signs to the town of Pulaski are scheduled to be put in place today, Matherly reported.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 linesby CNB