TOPSHAM

Continuing its work on pedestrian issues in the Lower Village, the town’s Lower Village Committee invites the public Monday to participate in a walkability audit, workshops and a concluding presentation.

The walkability audit and workshops will be conducted by Dan Burden of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute (www.walklive.org).

Burden is a renowned expert on walkability and community design who brings a highly creative and practical approach to designing people-friendly main streets.

“We need your participation and input to get the best results from the audit and workshops!,” a press release from the town states about the event.

Since a light lunch will be served as part of the morning session, and refreshments will be served at the evening session, the town requests people attending to RSVP for each session with John Shattuck, via email at jshattuck@topsham- maine.com or call him at 373-5097.

The morning session is form 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the municipal building at 100 Main St. The welcome and introductions start at 9 a.m., followed by the walking audit of the Lower Village with Burden at 9: 15 a.m.

A facilitated group discussion and vision session to define community values starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by an informal group discussion about priorities and next steps at 11 a.m. and a question and answer session with addition details about street designs, treatments and tools at noon.

The evening session will start at the municipal building at 6 p.m. with a presentation by Burden with a slide show of street designs, treatments and tools for increasing walkability which at 6: 45 p. m. will switch to specific recommendations for the Lower Village.

A facilitated group discussion and question and answer period with Burden is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. to get public input on the presentation, share inspirations as well as key concerns and suggestions, and to discuss some of the town’s challenges and opportunities in the Lower Village.