Town asking public for help with street names
Town asking public for help with street names
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
Residents of Scarborough who drive the winding Oak Hill roads linking the town hall, three schools, Memorial Park and the library may have noticed something odd – none of the four streets on the municipal and academic campus have names. The Scarborough Town Council is about to change that, but debate has arisen over the nature of the names to be chosen. A committee made up of town staff is calling for convention and practicality, while some councilors are pushing for creativity and distinctiveness.
At the Nov. 15 town council meeting, Town Manager Ron Owens presented the names suggested by a four-member committee he had established – Municipal Drive, Academic Drive, Memorial Drive and Wentworth Drive were the options that came out on top. Councilor Sylvia Most was the first to respond.
“These are really dull suggestions…and we’re going to have to live with them a long time.” Most said.
“They’re practical,” Owens responded.
Councilor Patrick O’Reilly had previously raised the issue of the nameless streets at an earlier meeting. He said the recent construction of the roads came with the building of the new high school and Memorial Park.
“The roads and the interconnectivity between them really just happened in the last year,” he said.
Wentworth Drive – the one name out of the four that O’Reilly favored – originates from the family that donated much of the land that the Wentworth Intermediate School is now situated on. O’Reilly thought the other street names could similarly reference a piece of Scarborough history. In a conversation with members of the Scarborough Historical Society, O’Reilly asked for historical names that might be associated with the area the roads crisscross. O’Reilly said he learned of the Underhill Farm, a farm which was once located in the area. O’Reilly suggested that one of the roads be named the Underhill Farm Road.
The committee, which included representatives from Community Services, public safety, the town assessor and the superintendent’s office, chose names that would be easy for people unfamiliar with the town to find, said Owens. It would be easy to locate the town hall, he said, if it was located on Municipal Drive.
Ultimately, the council decided to approve two of the names. The road that runs from Route 114 between Wentworth School and the Mitchell Sports Complex will be named Wentworth Drive. The road that runs from Route One past the town hall and to the stop sign at Wentworth Drive will be named Municipal Drive.
Councilors are encouraging residents to pass on any ideas they have for names for the remaining two streets. Councilor O’Reilly said name ideas can be emailed to him at poreilly@ci.scarborough.me.us.
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
Residents of Scarborough who drive the winding Oak Hill roads linking the town hall, three schools, Memorial Park and the library may have noticed something odd – none of the four streets on the municipal and academic campus have names. The Scarborough Town Council is about to change that, but debate has arisen over the nature of the names to be chosen. A committee made up of town staff is calling for convention and practicality, while some councilors are pushing for creativity and distinctiveness.
At the Nov. 15 town council meeting, Town Manager Ron Owens presented the names suggested by a four-member committee he had established – Municipal Drive, Academic Drive, Memorial Drive and Wentworth Drive were the options that came out on top. Councilor Sylvia Most was the first to respond.
“These are really dull suggestions…and we’re going to have to live with them a long time.” Most said.
“They’re practical,” Owens responded.
Councilor Patrick O’Reilly had previously raised the issue of the nameless streets at an earlier meeting. He said the recent construction of the roads came with the building of the new high school and Memorial Park.
“The roads and the interconnectivity between them really just happened in the last year,” he said.
Wentworth Drive – the one name out of the four that O’Reilly favored – originates from the family that donated much of the land that the Wentworth Intermediate School is now situated on. O’Reilly thought the other street names could similarly reference a piece of Scarborough history. In a conversation with members of the Scarborough Historical Society, O’Reilly asked for historical names that might be associated with the area the roads crisscross. O’Reilly said he learned of the Underhill Farm, a farm which was once located in the area. O’Reilly suggested that one of the roads be named the Underhill Farm Road.
The committee, which included representatives from Community Services, public safety, the town assessor and the superintendent’s office, chose names that would be easy for people unfamiliar with the town to find, said Owens. It would be easy to locate the town hall, he said, if it was located on Municipal Drive.
Ultimately, the council decided to approve two of the names. The road that runs from Route 114 between Wentworth School and the Mitchell Sports Complex will be named Wentworth Drive. The road that runs from Route One past the town hall and to the stop sign at Wentworth Drive will be named Municipal Drive.
Councilors are encouraging residents to pass on any ideas they have for names for the remaining two streets. Councilor O’Reilly said name ideas can be emailed to him at poreilly@ci.scarborough.me.us.
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