Main Street Park

Project Status

Site work is expected to begin in fall 2026. The park will be complete by spring 2027.

Project Overview

The City of Essex Junction is creating a small public pocket park at 1 Main Street, located at the Five Corners area in front of Firebird Café. Final design is complete and the Development Review Board approved the site plan in April 2025. The project is funded in partnership with the State of Vermont through a Downtown Transportation Fund grant with a local match.

The park will enhance the public realm in the City Center by creating a welcoming, flexible outdoor space for residents and visitors and supporting a more pedestrian-oriented Main Street environment, consistent with the Design Five Corners plan and the Connect the Junction Transit-Oriented Development Master Plan.

Community Input

In July 2022, the City conducted a community survey to gather feedback on potential uses and desired aesthetics for an urban park at Five Corners. Input from residents helped shape priorities for the space, including comfort, flexibility, and year-round usability.

Design and Features

The original concept was presented to the City Council in October 2022. In 2024 the Council approved a revised, lower-cost design that keeps the overall vision for an inviting public space. Final construction plans were completed in June 2026.

The design includes two seasonal shade sails, lighting, benches, picnic and café tables, planters, decorative screens, bike racks, an entry sign, and new curbing and paving.

Site Conditions

The park site is a former gas station. Soil testing found lead and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in shallow soils on parts of the parcel. The existing asphalt and concrete act as a protective cap over that soil, so the design keeps the pavement in place and uses above-ground planters rather than in-ground plantings. The City has submitted a Corrective Action Plan to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.