Kennebunk could see improvements to Main Street in downtown in the near future.

The town is currently working with Rasor Landscape Architecture, of Yarmouth, to reenvision aspects of the downtown area to make it safer, more accessible and more attractive.

Last week, the town held its first public showing of what Economic Vitality Director Stephen Houdlette called “very preliminary” work, showcasing ideas to build on investments downtown and make streets work better for vehicles and pedestrians.

“We have a number of challenges for downtown,” Houdlette said. “We’re still very early in terms of changes, but there are a few key areas to address.”

One of these key areas is Garden Street, which features a traffic divider to keep cars going in the correct direction.

The divider used to be a flower planter, Houdlette said, which was recently run over and destroyed. When the town put up a new divider, people reached out to Houdlette with concerns over the divider’s appearance.

It was this project that opened Houdlette’s eyes to some of the changes that could be made to downtown Kennebunk.

“We have a lot of festivals and events, which are very popular and well attended,” Houdlette said. “But they’re also very busy.”

One change that Houdlette hopes to introduce is better signage and parking directions for popular festivals and events downtown.

He also hopes to include open spaces and riverfront areas in an upcoming study.

One of the most important parts of the study, Houdlette said, is to look at the impact of traffic on the town’s drivability and walkability.

“As areas have grown up around Kennebunk, there’s a lot more traffic on our local roads,” Houdlette said. “There’s more tension with people using the downtown and people driving and trying to get where they’re going.”

Houdlette said that with the influx of people moving to Kennebunk during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the things people seem to value most is the town’s walkability.

“It’s something that is a real asset to the town, and something that we really value,” he said. “It’s why we’re putting our money where our mouth is.”

As plans continue to progress, Houdlette intends to keep an emphasis on the village feel, while maintaining the charm of downtown.

At the moment, the plan is to have finalized proposals and design schemes for downtown changes this fall.