Artway Plans Moving Along

Although plans have changed for the Hamilton Street Artway, landscaping and road improvements to were completed on July 19.

The landscaping, which has been set inside medians along the road, has been stolen twice in the area near the bus stop in front of Magruder Park, said Abby Sandel, the city's communications director.

Besides $8,500 worth of landscaping, the street had a full base repair where material was used to help keep the roadway intact a lot longer than normal, said Jim Chandler, Hyattsville's Community Development Coordinator.

"It helps to distribute weight [and] save a couple more years of surfacing on Hamilton Street," he said.

A $90,000 traffic table was initially proposed for the five-way intersection of Hamilton/Gallatin Street and 40th and 39th Avenues in front of Magruder Park. However, the idea was nixed because several utilities cross under the intersection, Chandler said.

The one-quarter-mile strip of road also includes bricked crosswalks.

"They give a very clear direction of where to cross," Chandler said. "Residents are very happy that you don't have residents crossing all over Hamilton Street."

Art will be incorporated along the road when it is possible, Chandler said, adding that he might work with the Hyattsville Community Arts Alliance for this.

Mosaic benches designed by artist Valerie Theberge have been installed along the sidewalks.

"They're very cool and very different," he said.