By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
A long-vacant Plainville property is set to become The Yard, a vision designed to bring new life to East Mill Street.
The project will turn the empty lot, once the site of Plainville’s historic lumberyard, into a multi-use community space for events, activities and celebrations.
Justin Casey, president of Downtown Plainville Inc., and Ashley Comeau, a Downtown Plainville board member, said the project will include a stage, designated food-truck parking, connecting sidewalks, shade structures and a play area for children.
"Our group wanted to see something downtown that brought a little bit more livelihood to it," Casey said.
Comeau said the old lumberyard had become a safety concern as its condition deteriorated, which ultimately drew the board’s attention to the site.
"It became one of those things where everyone said, 'somebody should do something,' and we finally decided that Downtown Plainville Inc. should be that somebody," Comeau said.
The 2025 Cookie Crawl this Saturday will help raise funds for phase one of the project. Participants can stop at downtown businesses to collect cookies to take home for the holidays. Totes and maps cost $25, with a limited number available.
You can learn more about the Cookie Crawl here.
Phase one will focus on building the stage, with work to be completed by local contractors. The nonprofit has raised $60,000 toward the estimated $140,000 needed for this phase, with the board aiming to complete it by the end of 2026, Comeau said.
Downtown Plainville has applied for several phase one grants, and those could free up locally raised funds to move directly into phase two. Downtown Plainville plans to pursue additional grants to match community contributions and support long-term development.
Comeau said much of the fundraising momentum has come from local donations and business support. A capital campaign planned for 2026 will offer naming-rights opportunities to individuals and businesses.
"The city council has been an outstanding partner on the project," Comeau said. "The city backing us has made all the difference in bringing the project to life."
Comeau said Downtown Plainville has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the city of Plainville. The nonprofit will handle project improvements, while the city will own and maintain the property.
Future phases will add shaded picnic areas, landscaping and a small play area. Comeau said the project will also support local agriculture and foster entrepreneurship while creating a space that can be used year-round.
"We're going to hopefully have music concerts, outdoor movies and any type of small gatherings," Casey said. "It's going ot be a nice space to bring people downtown and just get them out and about."
Comeau said the play area is intentionally designed as a nature-based space rather than a traditional playground, allowing it to blend naturally into the venue.
"For example, if somebody wants to get married or have a private event in this area, there's no distraction of a typical school playground off to the side. It will blend in naturally and look really beautiful as part of the space," she said.
A shipping-container concession stand with built-in storage, planned near the stage, is one of the board’s wishlist features that might be added if the organization raises enough funds for what it considers bonus items.
Kelli Hansen, a Downtown Plainville board member, said the project demonstrates what a group with a shared vision and purpose can accomplish for its community.
"It isn't just about downtown physical improvements, it's about creating a place we can all be proud of, where everyone feels welcome to come together and connect as a community," Hansen said.
You can follow Downtown Plainville Inc. on Facebook.
