Perennials, tall grasses and creeping junipers added new life and vibrancy to the roundabout near the new Market Basket shopping plaza off Exit 17.
The landscaping was done by Brochu Nurseries in Concord.
“We did the plantings for F.L. Merrill Construction,” said owner Len Brochu. “A few of the junipers and grasses will give you some height in the middle but there shouldn’t be anything visible in the winter.”
The clusters of perennials and lilies will bloom in the spring and last through the summer, making the infinity-patterned landscaping stand out to those visiting the shopping plaza, which is officially called Merchants Way.
“Both the city and the developer wanted to make sure the project was to the standard of the city as it should be,” said City Engineer Martha Drukker. “The landscaping is really important, this is a big project in Penacook and we’ll have a lot of regional customers.”
To support some of the smaller initiatives and projects that the city did not budget for, City Council approved two donations at their meeting on Tuesday night to help with the installation of sidewalks and other unforeseen costs. The firm of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. donated $68,723 to the project and Drake Petroleum donated $8,000. The funds will be used to offset the city’s expenditure, said City Manager Thomas Aspell.
“An extensive sidewalk network is planned to include sidewalks on Merchants Way and Interchange Drive along with another pedestrian bath from Whitney Road into the central part of the site,” a project narrative explained. “An open green space is proposed on the north side of the restaurant where outdoor dining is also proposed.”
Once complete, the plaza will serve residents of Penacook and the surrounding towns of Boscawen, Canterbury, Webster and Salisbury, among others. Construction on the shopping center, including the extension of city water and sewer lines, has been ongoing for more than a year and phase two construction will include more restaurant and retail space, a credit union and an urgent care facility.
Developer Laurie Rauseo said all phases of the project won’t be complete for several more years.
Phase one included the construction of the Market Basket supermarket and a New Hampshire State Liquor Store – both of which have opened to customers. Several other buildings in phase one ar still under construction, including the stand-alone Wendy’s, which was opened last month, and Home Goods, which will be open by the end of this month.