Signs to Sprout Soon at 25 Bay City in Bloom Pocket Park Sites
"Planting Pride in Our Community" Concept Flowers Under 50-Member Committee
May 15, 2004
By: Dave Rogers
Columbus Green is perhaps the most flamboyant of the city's 25 new pocket parks, anchoring the Columbus Avenue district at the foot of Washington Avenue and sporting flagpoles, benches and attractive plantings.
Typical pocket park concept is illustrated by plantings and decorative walkways near east approach to Liberty Bridge, near the U.S. Bankruptcy Court on the Saginaw River.
Bay City is in bloom and Bay City will be more in bloom, thanks to Bay City in Bloom.
Bay City in Bloom is a new organization,formed in 2002 under impetus by former mayor now City Commissioner Kathy Newsham to spruce up the city's appearance and achieve recognition as a "model community" aimed at improving the local quality of life.
Leaders include Sita Compton of BC Automotive,chairperson; Dick Somalski of Bay Landscaping, Paul Begick of Begick's Landscaping and Lucy Chargot. The City of Bay City is represented by Darwin Baranski, parks director, and other groups represented include the Bay County Historical Society, Bay City Garden Club, Old Thyme Herb Society, Downtown Development Authority, Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Rosarian Society, Bay City Times, Bay Arenac Career Center, Volunteer Resource Center of the United Way of Bay County, Rotary Club of Bay City, Trombley House, Learman, Peters, Sarow & McQuillan, P.L.C., Bay 3 TV and Handy Middle School.
The blooming concept has been sweeping the country over the past few years under the banner of America in Bloom, and a Michigan city, Kalamazoo, is among the foremost sites of success. A delegation from Bay City visited Kazoo last year and garnered enough ideas to keep the bloom planters busy for many years.
Bay City has sprouted to its own success, dotting the city with 25 pocket parks that will soon be designated with signs to be erected under leadership of Lucy Chargot.
Among the groups that have "adopted" the parks are the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Master Gardeners, Chemical Bank, Chargot Family, Gene and Judy Gillette, Bangor Township Water Department, Wade Trim, South End Citizens District Council, Do All and Pat Brennan, Sage Library Staff, Deborah and Steve Ingersoll and others.
Sites are available for adoption in public spaces such as parks, the Riverwalk/Railtrail, and parking areas.
America in Bloom key concepts, embraced by Bay City in Bloom as an affiliate organization, are:
Improve the visual appeal of America's neighborhoods, parks, open spaces and streets through the imaginative use of flowers, plants and trees.
Encourage involvement and coordinated action by citizens of all ages, municipal governments, local organizations and businesses.
Emphasize environmental awareness and preservation of heritage and culture as key parts of the program.
The Bay City organization expands the national objectives, adding:
Develop a sustainable organization to support this initiative.
Develop public-private partnerships to promote and support efforts to establish and maintain attractive streets, neighborhoods, business districts, parks and urban spaces through conservation, preservation, cleanup and the improvement of landscapes, gardens and the urban forest.
Provide resources for civic-minded volunteers seeking aesthetic enhancement projects.
Promote, support and recognize improvements in neighborhoods and business districts, historic preservation of buildings and the conservation of natural features in the community.
Develop a local contest and participate in the International Community in Bloom competition with our sister city, Goderich, Ontario, Canada.
Adopt criteria from the Community in Bloom contest as a guideline and benchmark for improvements.
For more information please contact Sita Compton, phone 893-0979.