City of Salem to hold ribbon cutting for new Burchfield Alleyway project Friday

The City of Salem will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a project with the goal of enhancing its downtown.

According to Mayor Cindi Dickey, the city will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, January 26, at 5:30 p.m. on Broadway Avenue for the Burchfield Alleyway project.

Dickey says the project will do many things to spruce up downtown and enhance folks' downtown experiences.

The alleyway will have 10 arched pillars going down the alley, embedded with computer-controlled LED lights and bistro lights on the pillars and in a canopy.

Additionally, there will be programmed music, as well as security cameras, and in the springtime, there will be small bistro-style tables and chairs.

"The idea is to provide a nice safe space and encourage people to use it as access to our public parking behind the Broadway storefronts," Mayor Dickey said.

Mayor Dickey says the next step is to enclose the dumpsters behind the businesses, clean them up, and add greenery.