YOUNGSTOWN Downtown gets a face-lift

About 200 volunteers devoted time to planting flowers, mulching and sweeping.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Joshua Rohr likes planting seeds in his vegetable garden, but Saturday morning, he was not in his back yard.
Instead, Joshua, 8, was planting flowers near the BW-3 restaurant downtown.
"It's cool to be out here," the Watson Elementary School pupil said matter-of-factly before helping his mother, Betsy Donzella, with another planting project.
He and about 200 other volunteers took part in Streetscape 2001, A Landscape Odyssey, sponsored by the Downtown Revitalization Committee. Some 52 Mahoning Valley businesses, organizations and individuals contributed to making this year's downtown Youngstown revitalization efforts possible, organizers said.
Many people who work downtown spent the morning in jeans and light green Streetscape 2001 T-shirts. They were carrying shovels instead of briefcases.
Despite the forecast for heavy rain, many came to mulch, sweep and pick up litter.
Large and small groups broke up to plant petunias, blue salvia and other annuals and perennials, turning Federal Plaza into a mosaic of blue, red and green.
Taking pride: "I work downtown and want to support downtown projects and see the beautification of this area," said Nancy Uber of Struthers.
Such efforts are key to bringing the city back, as well as getting people to take pride in their community, she added. Uber, who works for District XI Area Agency on Aging, also said she was pleased with the turnout.
Many organizations and agencies sent volunteers to take part, including Community Corrections Association. Several CCA participants talked about their experiences.
"This is the first time I've ever planted any flowers," said Victoria Harris of Youngstown.
Harris added she was happy to be given a second chance toward rehabilitation.
Harris, Lucy Lee and several other CCA clients also said they were happy to give something back to the community.
Artis Gillam Sr., 1st Ward councilman, praised the street department for helping monitor traffic. He also said the city has provided financial support and would keep the flowers watered and maintained.
"The idea is catching on," he said, referring to the turnout.
Growing project: In each of its four years, the Streetscape project has grown in terms of volunteers, according to Phil Dennison, project chairman.
So far, Streetscape 2001 has raised about $15,000, much of which goes toward mulch, soil and other materials, he said.
One of the main driving forces behind the project, though, is volunteers' concern for downtown Youngstown, said Scott Schulick, a committee member.
Such concern should spread beyond those who work downtown each day. People's perceptions of the city need to change, said Sharon Vidman, a volunteer from Struthers.
"I'm tired of hearing people say, 'I'm from Boardman.' We're all from the Mahoning Valley, and Youngstown is the center," she said. "Everyone should be concerned about what goes on here."
barron@vindy.com