Community Coffee group searches for new projects

The Community Coffee group, which is comprised of various members of the community and meets once a month on Thursday morning, has begun searching for a new project to encourage funded community groups to support.

During the Oct. 22 meeting, the group primarily focused on the possibility of new sidewalks alongside Broadway Street around the area of the train tracks as well as bike paths throughout the downtown area.

The group noted the sidewalks around the area of the train tracks and bridge across the Bighorn River are either dilapidated or nonexistent, and a proper sidewalk would not only make the downtown look more beautiful, but would also serve to connect the area to Hot Springs State Park.

Bike paths were also mentioned and discussed by the group, although questions of necessary street width and an appropriate route needed to be discussed further.

Both of the group’s ideas are subject to specific zoning laws and will need to be discussed with appropriate members of the community before they can be undertaken.

Community Coffee members also discussed the progress of way finding signs that have been discussed by Main Street Thermopolis, a group in which a number of Community Coffee members take part.

To close the meeting, the group also discussed beautifying the railway overpass at the western entrance to the Hot Springs State Park. The appropriate chain of command to seek grant approval for this project was unclear, though.

The next Community Coffee will take place in the high school conference room on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 a.m.