Business Districts Receive Makeovers
Keep Guntersville Beautiful Recovers from 2011 Tornado On April 27, 2011, the area surrounding Guntersville, Ala., was hit by a horrible force of nature in the form of a tornado. Because of this terrible blow, the Guntersville community park, which is a key recreational area that serves as the heart of the community, was left as a physical and emotional reminder of the town’s loss. It’s estimated the park lost 50 trees and a great amount of vegetation; park benches and trash/recycling containers were destroyed; and the community suffered from the emotional trauma that such devastation can create. Through a KAB Lowe’s Community Improvement Grant, Keep Guntersville Beautiful was able to bring the community together and lift it from this awful destruction. Community volunteers and Lowe’s Heroes, Lowe’s employee volunteers, came together to install 12 benches, 19 trash receptacles and three recycling containers in the targeted area. More than 100 plants were installed to restore the beauty that the storm-damaged park previously had along the walking trail. In addition, Keep Guntersville Beautiful established a memorial Azalea Trail featuring 130 azaleas. The Azalea Trail serves a dual purpose of providing much-needed color to the park as well as a personal investment in and a special connection to the park for community members.
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On a cold, rainy morning in Springfield, Ohio, 86 intrepid volunteers worked tirelessly to beautify 30 blocks of the downtown business district as part of Keep Clarke County Beautiful’s 3rd Annual Great Downtown Cleanup. Volunteers ranged from elementary school students to Master Gardeners, who joined together to pick up litter, paint over graffiti, pull weeds, lay mulch, and sweep sidewalks. In total, the group contributed nearly 285 volunteer hours and picked up 3,150 pounds of litter from their business community.
Tr e e sc a p e d b u si n e ss d is t ric t s av e r ag e 1 2 % high e r r e v e n u e t h a n t r e e l e ss a r e a s .
In a similar effort, Montgomery (Ala.) Clean City Commission rallied 100 volunteers who worked hard to beautify the Mulberry Business District. The Mulberry Business District is a heavily-traveled street in the heart of Montgomery with many quaint boutiques and eateries along the road. Volunteers picked up 2,000 pounds of litter, removed graffiti from an interstate underpass, built planters and planted flower beds. The area merchants also contributed enough money to purchase three custom iron signs that designated the district.
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