Killington continues its beautification with $15K grant

Rutland Herald

By Emily Cutts
staff writer | August 14,2015

 

KILLINGTON — A $15,000 grant will help continue the town’s effort to rebrand, beautify and ultimately make the town a four-season tourist destination.

The Moran Family donated the money to the Killington Pico Area Association, which presented the money to the Select Board at their Aug. 4 meeting.

“Killington is a special place for our family and we wanted to support its redevelopment as four-season destination” Kate Moran, of the Moran Family Foundation, said in a news release. “We’re hopeful our contribution can help the community continue its beautification plans in the years to come.”

The money will be dedicated to aesthetic development of the town.

“We are grateful for the contribution of the Moran Family Foundation and the support of the KPAA,” Select Board Chairwoman Patty McGrath said in a news release. “We believe that these types of public-private partnerships are integral to the growth and enhancement of our community.”

The town has been working on a rebranding and beautification effort since 2011, with the unveiling of a new logo. Previously, there were around nine logos throughout the town, prompting the then economic development director Seth Webb to refer to it as “logo soup.”

“The Killington Pico Area Association had been impressed with the town’s effort to beautify the commercial district,” Webb, current town manager, said. “The Moran family has a connection to Killington and wanted to support the community, so they spoke with Killington Pico Area Association on what the best way to do it would be. After a lot of discussion, they landed on supporting the town’s beautification efforts, which has been happening.”

Besides the updated logo, signs have been installed to help tourists navigate the town, native flower perennials have been planted, and a park and ride has been built, Webb said.

A new sign was installed in July on the roof of the Killington Welcome Center on Route 4.

Another sign will be placed on an AT&T cell tower that will be constructed on Killington Avenue. The project received its certificate of public good from the Public Service Board in December 2014.

Webb said the sign on the tower will be similar to those on pole banners on Route 4. The board approved a final design on Aug. 4.

“It’s been kind of contagious, people have been doing more and more,” Webb said. “(We’re) moving in the right direction and the Moran family will help us do that.”