Aiken's Makin' may see some change due to parkway project

Work taking place in downtown parkways will not significantly affect Aiken's Makin', according to officials.

Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Jameson said the annual festival's planning committee met with City officials on several different occasions during the planning phase of the City's Green Infrastructure Project and found that the project will not significantly impact the festival.

For Aiken's Makin', vendors set up in parkways along Park Avenue between Chesterfield and Union streets to sell items such as arts and crafts and many types of food.

The Green Infrastructure Project will take place in several of the City's parkways, including Park Avenue, where contractors are working on the early stages of the project. Eventually, bioretention ponds and rain gardens will be created in the parkways in an effort to absorb more rainwater and reduce storm water runoff in Hitchcock Woods.

Pervious pavement will also be installed in the streets where storm water runoff is prevalent. The project is being led by Clemson University professor Dr. Gene Eidson and his students.

According to Jameson, any changes that will need to be made at Aiken's Makin' once the project is finished will be minimal. He said some vendors may need to be relocated in some areas; however, officials will not know when until construction is complete.

"We may have to redesign some exhibit space, but it should work out fine," he said.

City Manager Roger LeDuc said water and electrical lines will be placed underground in the parkways as a part of the project so that power and water will be more accessible to vendors during events.

"We want to try to make this a festival-friendly area," LeDuc said.

Jameson said adding water and power access during Aiken's Makin' will be beneficial; in the past, vendors have had no access to water during the event, and organizers had created makeshift power stations during the festival.

"We feel good about what's going to happen," Jameson said of the project.

The 2010 Aiken's Makin' will be held on Sept. 10-11. Jameson said the festival's committee recently began planning for this year's event.

The Green Infrastructure Project is expected to be completed in about six months. It is being paid for with a $3.3 million federal grant from the Department of Health and Environmental Control from stimulus funds.

Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com.