It takes partnerships to make a lot of projects click, and the Greater Downtown Council in conjunction with the Duluth Downtown Waterfront District is pleased to take the lead on an annual event that helps bring warmth and color to our summer streetscape. One of the most important components of this project, however, is the helping hand we receive from volunteers in our community. That's why we are again seeking volunteers to help plant flowers for the Downtown Waterfront.
The fourth annual "Dig in for the Downtown Waterfront" will be held at Bayfront Park on Wednesday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to noon. Approximately 180 streetscape planters are sitting empty (except for some new growth of weeds), just waiting for willing hands to fill them with flowers to help brighten up the sidewalks of our central business district.
Community members place a high value on the aesthetic beauty that comes with adorning our streets, sidewalks and parks with colorful flowers. That pride becomes even more evident when residents volunteer their valuable time to pitch in on this project. We have gained strong allies in the Duluth Garden Flower Society and other groups and businesses that have turned this into an annual effort, and for that we are truly grateful.
Several years ago, the city of Duluth had to make a tough choice and eliminated the purchase and maintenance of annual flowers for business districts due to budget cuts. While the property owners of the Duluth Downtown Waterfront District have since provided the funding for the purchase and maintenance of the flowers, we are thankful that the city of Duluth remains a partner in this project as city crews assist in moving the planters to their appropriate sites out on the sidewalks. In addition, our city gardener provides his expertise to our countless volunteers to make the most valuable use of their time.
We will be taking delivery of countless crates of annual flowers on May 31, and we invite you to come join us to Dig in for the Downtown Waterfront. It is recommended that volunteers bring garden tools and gloves, if you have them. And, if Mother Nature does not cooperate with us, we have scheduled a rain date for Thursday, June 1.
