Nahant selectman eyes town beautification project

NAHANT-After more than three decades serving as an elected official in town, Selectman Richard Lombard has no intention of slowing down and has set his sights on beautification of the entrance to town.Lombard, who has already announced he would run for re-election in the spring, said he has one final project he would like to accomplish.?The area from Equitable Bank all the way up to 40 Steps needs improvement,” he said. “People who would like to serve on a committee to beautify that area have already approached me. I think we could secure some Community Preservation Act funds for the project. It’s one of my pet projects. I think we could make the entrance to town something really special.”Lombard said the area could be designed in such a way that it would enhance and blend in with the existing Veterans Park.?Maybe we could put in gas lamps, a fountain, some black pines and a decorative barrier for the ball fields,” he said. “It would probably take a couple of years but this project is something we really need to get done.”Lombard said Nahant Road used to be flanked on both sides by Dutch Elm trees, which succumbed to Dutch Elm disease years ago.?There is a new variety of Dutch Elm that is resistant to disease,” he said. “We should think about planting some of those along Nahant Road again.”Lombard said he is working with the Open Space Committee and would like to schedule public hearings to get community input on the project.?I know people have a lot of great ideas,” he said. “I’d like to find a way to incorporate them into this project.”Nahant Town Administrator Mark Cullinan said sprucing up the entrance to town is a worthwhile project.?This spring we’re going to ask Town Meeting to appropriate money for the design of the project,” he said. “I expect the design phase would cost $25,000 to $30,000.”