More than 200 trees will line Sterling Boulevard, from the Route 7 Intersection to Holly Avenue, in spring 2006.
The Main Street Sterling project plans to rejuvenate Sterling Boulevard, from the Route 7 intersection south towards Laurel, through its new landscaping project.
"The design plans are complete and VDOT has approved them," Hein said. "We are now creating a package to present to landscapers."
Kate Davidson Landscape Architecture and Garden Design completed the plans for the project. Plans include planting of trees like dogwood, elm and oak trees.
"Kate Davidson went through and picked out culture trees, all in accordance with VDOT regulations," Hein said. "We are replacing the pear trees on Sterling Boulevard on the Routh 7 side with dogwoods because pear trees have a limited life. They are slowly but surely on their way out."
The Loudoun County Sanitation Authority donated survey maps necessary to plan the project.
"These maps are very expensive," Hein said. "Sanitation Authority lent us these maps from their water main project, which are worth over $100,000."
The landscape company was able to design the project, using the maps, which outlined important structures like water mains.
The second part of the project, from Holly Avenue to Davis Road and Davis Road to Route 28, is not yet underway.
"We are waiting for the Loudoun County Sanitation Authority to provide the second half of maps," Hein said. "Those have not been done yet."
THE STERLING FOUNDATION has raised $120,000 for the Main Street Sterling project through matching grant funds and private donations. Matching grants fund 80 percent of what the foundation raises.
"We still need $150,000 to complete the project," Hein said. The foundation is waiting on a $120,000 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) grant. It is looking to the community for the remaining $30,000.
"I am confidant that the TEA-21 program will recognize the request because the project is endorsed by the community, which is one of the criteria," Hein said. "We are hopeful and working very hard. If we do not get the money from the grant, we have to get it from the community."
Sterling Fest donated a portion of its proceeds to the project. The Sterling Foundation’s Sky Dantinne said the festival raised more than it has in the past, despite the rain. "We have raised an average of $10,000 in previous years," Dantinne said. "This year, we raised $13,000."
The foundation donated the proceeds to the Sterling Foundation, Sterling Playmakers and the Sterling Community Center. "Some of the proceeds go toward the foundation’s matching grant funds for the new landscaping project," he said.
Major contributors include MC Dean, Andrews Community Investments and Dr. Brian McEachern.
DESIGN PLANS WILL BE ON DISPLAY at the Oct. 19 meeting to discuss Sterling projects in the Quinn Room at Sterling Community Center, 120 Enterprise St., at 7 p.m. Representatives of the Sterling Foundation and the Loudoun County Sanitation Authority will present plans for landscaping initiatives on Sterling Boulevard. Loudoun County officials and staff, representatives of the Virginia Department of Transportation, and representatives of Route 28 Corridor Improvements LLC, and the contractors working on the job will answer questions on the Route 28, Sterling Boulevard Interchange project.