The total estimated cost of the project is around $159,000.

BUCKFIELD – A large crowd Tuesday night unanimously approved of selectmen pursuing plans to landscape the municipal center and fire station and improve parking.

Selectmen said the time seems right to upgrade the area because the state highway department will begin improving Route 117, or Turner Street, this summer.

The municipal center and fire station front on Route 117 in the village center.

A landscape sketch of the project showed a bandstand, commons and memorial garden with a flag pole on the inside of the circular drive in front of the municipal center. Parking spaces are drawn on both sides of each end of the circular drive. A parking lot for 44 cars is shown beside the municipal building and behind the Buckfield Community Church, which also fronts Route 117. There would be designated spaces for handicapped people, who would use the back entrance to the municipal center.

A total of $52,000 toward the estimated $159,500 cost has been set aside. The total includes $83,000 for excavation and drainage, $51,500 for paving, curbing and striping, and $25,000 for lighting.

Cost-saving ideas included using excavated material for fill rather than paying to have it removed, donations and adopting a parking space, light or landscaping materials.

Other ideas were to have limited parking in front of the municipal center and additional parking for the church and village businesses.

Selectman Oscar Gammon, Dick Piper and Jerald Wiley will work on the plan before the next informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. May 18.