By FRED MCCARTHY

Langley mayor

From 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, we are going to have a party on the new plaza in the center of Langley and everyone is invited. The Langley Main Street Association and the Langley Chamber of Commerce have partnered with the City of Langley to host this event. Main Street arranged for veterans from the Whidbey Veterans Resource Center to prepare a summer barbecue for everyone. It will be a time of ribbon cutting, enjoying local food, drink, music, and celebrating moving our economy and city into a future filled with hope and promise.

This has been a project “we” have done together. We created a vision, obtained the funding, hired the right engineering company and architect. Most of our businesses sacrificed commerce greatly during the construction. Many people gave input that was listened to along the way, changes were made, and now we have a brand new street and infrastructure to celebrate and enjoy for generations to come.

It is far from an ordinary street. It is the kind of street that the extraordinary people of Langley deserve. It is a breathtakingly beautiful village center with hand-selected plantings in creative rain gardens. It has new water pipes, storm drains, and fiber optic conduit. Wide sidewalks were poured for families and friends to walk arm-in-arm together. An artistic geometrically-designed plaza with LED lighted seating, a central convenient bus stop, creative signage and banners, and stamped concrete pathways welcome movement crossing at multiple locations. The city restrooms and visitor center are newly painted with new signage and have a warm, golden glow.

All is ready for the celebration. What we need is for all of you to come and join us.

Won’t you come out on Wednesday, July 9, for a memorable summer evening of friendship and fun and to see firsthand a transformed Second Street?