Shaping Up Downtown Sparta

The Village of Sparta Downtown Development Authority would like to invite the community to attend a Downtown Streetscape Construction Project Open House and a chance to view the exciting revitalization efforts which include new streetscape lighting, new downtown benches, paved crosswalks, street gardens, and much more! The Downtown Streetscape Construction Project is set to begin April 1, 2009 and last through the beginning of July 2009 from State Street to Prospect on Division Avenue. To find our more details about the project, please join us at the open-house between 6:00 and 8:00 pm on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 at the Sparta Civic Center • 75 N Union • Sparta, MI 49345. Stop by to see what the excitement is about in downtown Sparta!

Downtown Sparta is celebrating with an Old Fashioned Christmas throughout the month of December. Horsedrawn Trolley Rides for luminary tours and Santa pictures for pets with Santa are just a part of the wonderful activities going on! Don't miss out on Candy Cane Lane, located behind the Library or the Santa Train bringing Santa in straight from the North Pole!

While in Sparta, participate in our Downtown Strolling Sticker program where participating businesses hand out stickers. Fill your sticker card with a sticker from each business and receive a FREE Sparta Christmas Ornament! Also, you will be entered into win the Downtown Gift Basket, worth over $800!

Check out the printable PDF fliers:

Xmas Bakeoff http://www.spartachamber.com/pdf/XmasBakeoff.pdf
Chili Cookoff http://www.spartachamber.com/pdf/Chili2007.PDF
Pet Night with Santa http://www.spartachamber.com/pdf/PetNight.pdf
Downtown Strolling Sticker Cards http://www.spartachamber.com/pdf/downtown_stamp_card.pdf.
Event Flier (all events) http://www.spartachamber.com/pdf/SpartaEventsFlier1.pdf

Historical Downtown Sparta

If you were in downtown Sparta today, you may have seen the historically dressed characters and older model vehicles talking with Sparta students on the the fifth grade historical tour of Sparta. Mr. Larry Carter correlates the tour with Sparta businesses and residents to incorporate a true historical feel of our community. On the left is a picture of one group looking at the Lamoreaux Grave Site and learning the significance of the history behind the three brothers from Sparta that all perished in World War II. The 5th grade classes also learn about proper gravesite etiquette in the historical exploration of their community. This picture below is of Paul Badgerow, better known as Sharky, describing to the 5th graders the specific historical aspects of the building that currently holds the Reunion Street Cafe. Below is a picture of Norma Gene Chapman describing the Cheslek Funeral Home building history and the downtown mainstreet fire of the 1970's to a group of students.

With period specific music playing downtown, the students learned about their community and their heritage through the school led program but only with the help of area residents who took the time to help make Sparta truly "What A Neighborhood Should Be".

Special thanks to all the volunteers who took the time to help share their memories and knowledge about the history of our community.