A special ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for later this week in Jefferson for a project that’s been over three years in the making.

The north alleyway of the downtown square called Arch Alley features three metal arches with different pathways in Greene County. Artist David Williamson says the southernmost arch highlights the arches of the downtown square, while the middle arch interpretes the future pathways of children. The northernmost arch includes the diverse manufacturing businesses in the county. 

Other features of the alleyway include a bench that was donated by the Jefferson High School Class of 1968, of which Tower View Team Chair Deb McGinn announced that the Class of 1968 has provided additional funding to add more seating at a later date. There is also a bronze engraved poem with funding from a Greene County Community Foundation grant. Williamson points out the poem wasn’t part of the original project, but after working with community members, it became clear that the poem needed to be included.

“I think sometimes creative writing can emotionally inform a visual experience.But to get a poem like this, it requires a certain amount serendipity, and sensitivity, and spirit that’s hard to sometimes to articulate. But they came up with such powerful phrases that it became clear that it was falling into place.”     

A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 5:30pm Friday. The event is free and open to the public.