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Street Beautification Competition

Posted by popi (My Page) on
Sat, Sep 1, 12 at 22:40

I live in an inner city area with terraces that have small front gardens. It is my interest to improve the look of the street, and for owners to tidy up their own front gardens - by having a garden/street tidy competition.

I would hope that this would increase the sense of community, as well.

Does anyone live in a community where such a system is working ?

I think the best system would be for a local gov. to run this.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Street Beautification Competition

Our town has a Garden Club and the members volunteered to plant and water the planters in the business district. We also have hanging baskets and the township waters them from a truck. The Garden club tried the competition route once but the results from the business owners was underwhelming.

Is this a residential area? If so I think it's a shame that the owners aren't interested in doing this themselves - all the time. In my SIL's neighborhood several neighbors got together and planned a First Saturday in June Day. They went to a local nursery and got discounted prices for easy care bedding plants and bagged mulch then distributed a flyer to everyone on the street with a price list and a photo of a completed bedding area. They were even willing to have the plants and mulch delivered if the residents would pay up front. It took a few years but after a while most of the residents joined in.


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RE: Street Beautification Competition

Maybe have a competition among landscapers who would draw up plans for the gardens. The winner or winners would then plant the gardens which could be maintained by individuals or shop owners. Small brass plaques could say something like "Designed by Smith Landscapes and maintained by Suzy's Salon". It would be free advertising for the people involved which would probably give you beautiful and well maintained gardens.


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RE: Street Beautification Competition

Wow ! Thanks ladies, I think I have some terrific ideas there.

The curious thing is the homes near me are worth a lot of money because they are very close to the city (Sydney Australia). I just don't understand why they don't have nice little front gardens.

I am part of a street group that picks up the rubbish once a month, but I want to do more.

Thanks again.


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RE: Street Beautification Competition

Not sure if this would work where you are but in my little town they have a yard of the month where they have picture in the paper, a sign in the yard and the homeowner gets chamber bucks to use at any local business. Maybe you could do something similar where you get the local businesses involved to give some type of prize or the chamber bucks idea. By using chamber bucks, the money stays in the local community.


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RE: Street Beautification Competition

We also have an annual Garden Tour and the proceeds go to support a local charity. The Garden Club organizes this and home owners allow ticket holders to walk through their gardens. I'm amazed at the creativity and expertise that's evident on these tours. And the gardens don't have to be extravagant either.

If you already have a group of interested people who help clean up the streets then perhaps they'd also be interested in joining you on this project.


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