Grant money has been secured and plans have been drawn. Downtown will be getting a face lift.

The Community Economic Development Authority's (CEDA) five-year "Downtown Design" project, which will make downtown more attractive and easier for pedestrians to navigate, will likely begin next spring.

State grant money totaling $685,000 will get the first of four phases of the project off the ground beginning in March 2011. Phase One will include the area from the Fire Department on Main Street down to Center Street, and would likely be completed by June.

"You can't build a vibrant downtown through drive-through," said CEDA Director Chris Reilly. "[The project] will get people out of their cars, walking around."

Grant money will cover the cost of each phase, so no contribution from the town will be required, Reilly added.

Proposed street-scape improvements include stamped asphalt crosswalks to replace the existing green, painted crosswalks. The crosswalks will also be reconfigured to be more conducive to pedestrian traffic, with shorter, safer distances across the street.

Portions of the sidewalk will be updated with brick edging. "Bump-outs," areas of the sidewalk that extend slightly into the street, are also planned and will provide room for more benches and trash receptacles. The bump-outs will not impact parking, Reilly said.

Energy-efficient street lights will be installed to save the town money on electricity, and trees and shrubs will be planted.

Alleyways stretching from Main Street to Merchants Way will be updated to "exploit the waterfront and take advantage of the beautiful views," Reilly said.

The entire project will extend from Tremont Nail to Besse Park, creating a much better business environment, Reilly said.

"We're making [downtown] a nicer place to gather, a safer place to walk around," Reilly said. "It's really going to be like an 'Extreme Makeover' for the town."