The Downtown Westbrook Coalition is looking to capitalize on a recent influx of volunteers who are hoping to lend a hand in strengthening the city’s downtown district.

Following heavy participation in its “visioning” process this spring, in which the group sought public insight over what the downtown needs to thrive, interest in the coalition, and its goals, spiked.

The coalition’s coordinator, Abigail Cioffi, said last week that following the visioning project, the addition of between 15-20 new members has brought new energy to the group.

The organization is a Maine Downtown Network working under the national Main Street model, which is a proven model for downtown revitalization. A large part of its success is its structure – with sub-committees based on the four Main Street tenets of design, promotion, organization and economic vitality.

Cioffi said the economic vitality committee has been meeting regularly for about a year, and is growing, based on high interest.

The remaining committees, she said, have just recently come together, benefiting from the new volunteers. Now that the majority of committees are meeting regularly, the individual groups can focus on accomplishing some of the ideas posed by residents.

“Being able to engage with them and now give them something concrete to work on is really nice,” she said.

A visioning session held by the coalition in March brought out about 60 residents. It was facilitated with assistance from Deliliah Poupore, the executive director of Heart of Biddeford, a successful Main Street revitalization program. Poupore said the turnout and enthusiasm at the March event was uncommon.

Residents were asked questions such as “What would you like to see changed?” with many saying they’d like to see an expanded riverwalk, more arts spaces, more small boutique stores, and cafes and coffee shops.

According to Cioffi, the coalition’s economic vitality committee is currently compiling a list of all of the commercial vacancies on Main Street, complete with square-footage and other additional info. It will then be placed on the coalition’s website to make it easier for interested parties to access.

“That’s the biggest thing people are looking at right now – getting those vacancies filled on Main Street,” she said.

The promotion committee works on local events that can bring fresh interest to Westbrook. A triathalon headed to the city in September is one such accomplishment so far – even as “Wessie,” the snake reported near the river, has taken over discussion on the river lately. Another goal of the committee is to promote the river.

The Major League Triathalon Greater Portland, on Sept. 10, will use portions of the Presumpscot for the swimming portion.

Westbrook Mayor Colleen Hilton said Tuesday that she’s excited for what the coalition can do for the city, and is glad that the focus on bringing people to the river is being renewed.

“I was walking along the river last week and there were probably 20 kids fishing on the riverbank,” she said. “It will continue to be a focus for the city.”

Portland Paddle, which had been offering kayak rentals along the river in past years, is no longer offering daily rentals this season. The group, however, is working on one-off kayak events.

The coalition is also helping to find sponsors for the Maine Market, which begins its third season in Riverbank Park this Saturday, July 9. The upcoming “Art All Around” art installation by the Maine Center for Creativity is another example.

A new website for the coalition was also launched in April, but is still unfinished.

For the design committee, which has now met a few times, Cioffi said there was a design walk, where members surveyed downtown Westbrook to list ideas for improvements or problem areas.

“Clean-up efforts, and getting storefronts to look nicer, it all ties in to what we’d like to fix,” she said.

Cioffi said the visioning meeting, and subsequent online surveys, were “integral” in shaping what the group is working on now. She said it reaffirmed a lot of the ideas that had already been discussed by the coalition, while providing new ones.

To get involved in the coalition, or one of its four sub-committees, go to www.downtownwestbrook.com or call 207-391-2977.

A group of Westbrook residents creates a list of ideas for improving the downtown during a ‘visioning’ session in March. Since that time, the Downtown Westbrook Coalition has seen growing interest in its efforts.