Plans for a new pavilion on Gilbo Avenue in Keene call for solar panels on top to power downtown lights. (Courtesy of Stantec)
Nearly $1.8 million in recently announced federal funds would cover most of the cost of a new pavilion planned for Gilbo Avenue in Keene, according to a city official. The pavilion, which is part of the upcoming three-year infrastructure project, would hold a solar array to power all of the lighting and events in downtown Keene.
City officials learned Friday that Keene was named a recipient of the Timber for Transit grant, which funds transportation and transportation-related projects that use wood. The program is run by the Northern Border Regional Commission, a government organization that supports economic development in communities in New Hampshire, New York, Maine and Vermont.
The pavilion is part of the preliminary designs city councilors approved for the downtown infrastructure project now slated to begin in 2026.
The 230-by-30-foot structure would hold 120 solar panels and cost roughly $2 million, according to Public Works Director Don Lussier. Plans call for it to be constructed behind YOLO Cafe and next to the Commercial Lot on Gilbo Avenue.
Parking spaces underneath the pavilion’s roof could be used when there aren’t events or other activities being hosted there.
“It’s more than just a parking stall … parking stalls are typically 18 feet; this is going to be about 30 feet wide,” Lussier said.
These dimensions were chosen so there would be enough space for events, according to Lussier, who cited the idea of a food truck festival as an example.
“We could put eight to 10 food trucks underneath this and have space between them for people … and picnic tables and that sort of thing,” he said.
Most recently projected to cost $17.4 million, the upcoming infrastructure project will replace aging pipes beneath downtown Keene, the oldest of which Lussier said dates back to 1868. A number of above-ground changes to Main Street are also planned and have been hotly debated since the project discussions started more than five years ago.
Additional federal funding could potentially expand the project’s scope. If Keene is awarded a multi-million-dollar grant the city plans to reapply for, the project could also include the addition of public water and sewer utilities on Gilbo Avenue, which is largely undeveloped, from St. James Street to School Street. City staff were denied the grant in a previous round of funding last year, and expect to hear back on their latest application at the end of June.
The downtown project is now planned to begin in 2026 after city councilors voted this month to delay the start date from this spring. The work will roll out in three phases, with one completed each year, starting with Central Square.
When the city applied for the pavilion money, the plan was to build it in 2026 during phase two. With the project postponement, Lussier said it’s likely the structure won’t be built until 2027.
City Manager Elizabeth Ferland (formerly Dragon), said the Timber for Transit grant could have a significant impact on the region.
“I am thrilled that Keene will have this opportunity to showcase that,” she said in a news release from the Northern Border Regional Commission about the grant.
“In addition, the solar power being created will power our entire downtown project and move us one step closer to our energy goals.”
Ferland noted in the same release the city’s commitment to encouraging more activity on the street. “One of our economic development goals is to activate areas such as Gilbo Avenue and help people take advantage of our recent land use code updates. The new pavilion is a perfect way to launch that effort that may not have otherwise been possible,” she said.
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