1. Develop the “keystone” property to include multi-level parking and retail space.

2. Develop a proactive plan to attract a sensible blend of businesses to the Square.

3. Replace 20 rubber bins with wrought-iron antique-style trash receptacles. view release

4. Replace traffic light island with more pleasing solution.

5. Bury telephone lines below ground.

6. Attract a small hotel/bed and breakfast to Square.

7. Keep court system in town, improve and expand it.

8. Create educational programs for children about civics and economics, entrepreneurship.

9. Facilitate on-going communication to town officials, residents, merchants and landlords.

10. Work to revise downtown sign bylaw.

11. Install decorative parking meters.

12. Improve signage and shop facades.

13. Create on-going dialog with Town Hall to Square Circle.

14. Purchase new historic-style street lamps.

15. Create branding for downtown.

16. Create branding for Dedham in general.

17. Develop advertising campaign for downtown businesses and the downtown district. Create co-op advertising to alert area to offerings in Square.

18. Provide mini-grants for volunteers who will take on smaller improvement projects.

19. Make the curb wider at the corner of High and East to improve safety.

20. Work with merchants to stay open longer — coordinate “Late Night Shopping” events or “First Thursday/Friday” celebrations. view releaseStudy how parking works and doesn’t work in the Square.

21. Create a directory of shops/organizations in the Square. view release

22. Survey business owners to see what they’d like to see in the Square. Where do they need help?

23. Maintain a database of property owners and available spaces in the Square.

24. Keep merchants and residents abreast of new trends in planning, growth and development.

25. Restore the Theatre and the marquee to its original 1927 grandeur.

26. Add more park benches. view release

27. Improve the bus waiting areas.

28. Take care of the trees, re-plant and plant more.

29. Add antique-style bike racks.

30. Work with Civic Pride on variety of improvement projects.

31. Create link with Dedham seniors, perhaps through a discount program.

32. Organize volunteers to clean the Square regularly.

33. Work with the Department of Public Works to fine-tune maintenance of the Square.

34. Develop relationships with scouting programs to tap in to their community service goals. view release

35. Survey Square customers and consumers to find out where they are from and what they want.

36. Create more beautiful “gateways” to the Square.

37. Work on Rails-to-Trails project, eventually connecting the Square to Readville.

38. Power-wash sidewalks of gum.

39. Create “Keep the Square Clean” program.

40. Hold outdoor fairs twice a year. view release

41. Work to change sign code to be more “business-friendly” - allow chairs and tables in front of cafes.

42. Create walking tour of Square and surrounding neighborhoods. view release

43. Hire PR group to promote Dedham as a “destination.”

44. Create youth art studio program to bring back Dedham Pottery.

45. Create partnerships with chains and malls on Route 1 to help preserve historic Square.

46. Work with other town squares to set up similar civic groups.

47. Have antique fairs, farmers market in or around parking lot.

48. Harness private foundations for development and community grants.

49. Found “Square Hop” Day — one Sunday a year where the only vehicles allowed to park in Square will be 1959 or older- create celebration around this – celebrate the “Back to the Future” and “Old Fashioned Values” message.

50. Create a Square Circle Loyalty Program.

51. Study surrounding towns to examine successes in redevelopment.

52. Create quarterly Leadership Roundtable and bring together leaders to talk about grants and improvements.

53. Work hand-in-hand with Rotary Club and other civic groups to improve Square.

54. Encourage ideas from community on Square improvement.

55. Hold quarterly “Back to Business” meetings with merchants.

56. Develop tourism in Dedham and the Square. Create Souvenir programs.

57. Commission DVD/film of Dedham Square to attract tourism and one for attracting business.

58. Create awards for active Square volunteers and merchants.

59. Compile a business recruitment package to attract new merchants.

60. Create Holiday Gift Giving Guide.

61. Create visual fun map of the Greater Square. Print and distribute.

62. Design and distribute table-card, window stickers, etc., for Square Circle member merchants.

63. Design, print and hang Square Circle light pole banners.

64. Hire an actor in Victorian garb to walk the Square each Saturday in character explaining the history of the town.

65. Design and hang holiday lights to rival Harvard Square and other squares who know this attracts holiday shoppers.

66. Create family friendly events and work with existing ones like the Holiday Tree Lighting and Dedham Day. view release

67. Study the signs in the Square, replace old, remove unnecessary ones, add historic plaques.

68. Study bus schedules; improve transportation to the Square.

69. Provide more information about businesses/services in an expanded and attractive catalog.

70. Arrange auction item/donation requests on behalf of the Square merchants.

71. Create street art and music programs in Square.

72. Create outdoor shaded area for Square visitors to gather on hot days – perhaps install vapor coolers along street at night for nighttime strolling.

73. Study how parking works and doesn’t work in the Square.

74. Create Square Circle Holiday Dinner Celebration Fundraiser.

75. Network with other “Main Street” organizations to share ideas.

76. Organize extensive membership drive with different membership levels and fundraising program with donor recognition programs.

77. Co-produce events such as Alumni Holiday Stroll to bring shoppers to the Square.

78. Sponsor Children’s Art Gallery show.

79. Work with Community House and Square churches to better serve those community members.

80. Connect new or established business owners with resources to start up, transition or expand.

81. Work with Fox TV to develop better coverage of “stories in the Square.”

82. Join National Historic Trust Main Street USA Program.

83. Create a Merchant Museum documenting businesses since 1700's in the Square.

84. Work with Dedham Historical Society to preserve and revive historic elements.

85. Educate merchants about history, design, architecture so they can shape their businesses to it.

86. Develop and maintain a mailing and e-mail database to stay in contact with Square Circle members.

87. Create a social studies program in schools where children create a map of how to get from their house to Dedham Square.

88. Replace sidewalk with brick trimmed walks and crosswalks.

89. Improve snow removal on Square streets and sidewalks.

90. Use public access cable to promote the Square.

91. Bring back the train station/clock tower as a mix of outdoor café, shops, services like the pottery workshop studio.

92. Create a local Square Circle Pod-casting “radio station” with ads and news.

93. Campaign to promote shop owners as local celebrities.

94. Work with photographers and artists in a “Capture the Square” contest.

95. Unite the “lower” and “upper” Square... Re-brand the “lower” Square and “outer” Square as “Greater Square.”

96. Work with national chains like D’Angelos, Gulf, and CVS to take more active part in Square.

97. Work with real estate offices to provide potential buyers with info on the benefits of the evolving Square.

98. Host workshops and training for business owners—marketing, merchandising, customer service.

99. Build community kiosk to advertise community events.

100. Add long-neck mailboxes to Square to alleviate parking problems at Post Office.

101. Work with Town Hall (www.dedham-ma.gov) and community on long-range Master Plan to create strong economic and social landscape.