The Town of Carrboro is considering nearly $900,000 in updates and improvements to the Town Commons.

“Town Commons is one of our centerpieces,” said Carrboro Mayor Lavelle. “It’s starting to be used, I think, more and more, with some of the special events we’ve had there – some of the big concerts and our growing number of festivals.

“And, of course, its genesis was in the farmer’s market when it moved over there, many years ago.”

Last Tuesday, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen was presented with a plan, in three phases, to update Town Commons for the first time since the mid-`90s.

Updates back then gave birth to the pavilions and gazebos that citizens now enjoy.

A recent Town study, which included a survey, resulted in a new plan that would cost between $800,000 and $900,000.

Lavelle said she’s excited about the proposed changes.

“One iteration of – I think it’s phase two – is to split the far parking lot into two smaller lots, and create an area where we can have kind of a stage area.”

She added that there could be movies on the lawn, and stages could be erected for musical performances.

Preservation of the green area is also a priority. Lavelle said the turf on the Commons really takes a beating, as the area sees more and more use.

Another goal is to make the Commons an easier for just walking walk around.

Phase three actually involves reconfiguring the access road off Main Street to the Farmer’s Market.

Right now, drivers come in through Laurel Ave., wind around for a bit, and then awkwardly maneuver their way in front of Town Hall or behind the back.

Lavelle said it would be great to get rid of a little island there that serves no real purpose.

“There’s a way to clean that up and come up with green space, and some more area there that would look nice.”

The Board of Aldermen liked that idea so much, there’s talk of folding phase three into phase one.

Lavelle said that the board of the Farmer’s Market will join the funding effort.

The Town of Carrboro is also seeking continuing input from citizens through its website.

“Part of it is, kind of, bringing it back sometime after the new year, and taking any more public comment,” she said, “perhaps even getting some more public comment on the internet, now that we have a design for people to comment on.”

After that, the next step will be to begin phasing in improvements.

You can find a link to the Town of Carrboro site here.