When a big green planter materialized outside of Bank Square Books a couple of weeks ago it stopped some people in their tracks.
Many locals had no idea it was coming.
“I hope you do a story on the fountain/planter/statue/monstrosity that is in front of Bank Square Books,” Sally Halsey posted on the Stonington-Mystic Patch Facebook page. “The town is wondering who chose it, where it came from, and when will ‘they’ decide it's too big and unattractive!”
The statute, which many mistook as a fountain, is actually a planter that at some point will have plants.
“Just noticed it yesterday as I drove through town,” Michele Peters wrote on the Groton Patch Facebook page. “It does stand out because of the bold green color.”
The Town of Groton had the planter installed as part of the ongoing Mystic Streetscape Project, the $3.6 million plan . Boston-based landscape architecture Kyle Zick, who did the designs for both the Stonington and Groton sides of the Mystic Streetscape Project said a photograph of a water trough for horses inspired the creation of planter.
Zick who also did the Beacon Street Streetscape Project in Brookline, Mass., looked through the Mystic River Historical Society’s Images of America: Mystic book for reference during the creation of the streetscape design. On page 79 of the book is a photograph of the horse-watering fountain. According to the Mystic River Historical Society the fountain stood in the intersection of West Main and Water Street in the early 1900s.
While Mystic’s past inspired the present day fountain not everyone thinks it belongs.
“Honestly...its a little over the top,” Nancy Gerrish Clang wrote on the Groton Patch Facebook page. "Doesn't really fit the location...maybe the center of Mystic River Park would have been better."
Other commenters felt whale better reflects the area’s history and also wondered if the whale was staying with the planter.
“A little too much with the whale and fountain,” Sherry Cutler wrote on the Groton Patch Facebook page. “Maybe move the whale? Wondering.... who paid for it....after the mess with the roads this summer?”
A group of downtown Mystic businesses own the Mystic whale, and according to Bank Square Books the whale is not going anywhere.
At some point, however, Mystic Streetscape Project Manager Rick Norris said there would be the addition of a sign that talked about the historical reference of the fountain.
Maybe in a few months everyone will get use to the planter and we won’t even notice it.
“Haven’t paid attention...Just know that the sliding wall is super great for visitors to rest while visiting and enjoy the goings on,” Marie Tyler Wiley wrote on the Stonington-Mystic Patch Facebook page.
@Anna Maria--let's not forget Ted's Pizza, Valenti's Carwash, Bendette's clothing, Chuck's Steakhouse, Mystic Sporting Goods, the Potpourri, and sorely-missed BeeBee's Dairy! Those were some mighty fine establishments--too bad they're gone!
"Functionally, the agreement would secure the $1.2 million in total funding for the project, 80 percent of which would come from the federal government, with a 20 percent local contribution to be paid for out of so-called "LoCIP" funds provided by the state to the town for capital improvements annually." Is this incorrect?
Traffic calming is a system of design and management strategies that aim to balance traffic on streets with other uses. It is founded on the idea that streets should help create and preserve a sense of place, that their purpose is for people to walk, stroll, look, gaze, meet, play, shop and even work alongside cars – but not dominated by them.
My family settled in Mystic in 1865, and having family diaries from that era (and the 1890s), I can assure you that while Victorian era tastes may have run to that monstrosity, New England values did not. Too bad the original trough wasn't simply replicated, but I"m sure visitors will enjoy the signs and placards apparently necessary to explain it all.
Design by committee is a term referring to a style of design and its resultant output when a group of entities comes together to produce something, particularly in the presence of poor leadership. The defining characteristics of "design by committee" are needless complexity, internal inconsistency, logical flaws, banality, and the lack of a unifying vision. (from wikipedia) I am in the design business, and believe me, consulting many Mystic taxpayers would not have resulting in a better project. Only more infighting and delays. I disagree, the planter is not a monstrosity, and fits in very nicely with New England values. My family has been in this part of the world since 1770. We, as New Englanders, have always embraced ideas and design both old and new. This is an old design that is both appropriate, and to some, a welcome addition that will be a beautiful, colorful, overflowing distraction for tourists and locals alike...
Overpriced... Local taxpayers foot a minimal bill. Feds paid, State paid. Of course we all pay overall. But look at the benefits. Downtown is beautiful. It is going to be good for all of us in the long term. Can't you see?