STREETSCAPE Group to raise funds for city beautification

The group is also seeking volunteers for the June 4 event.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A clean, beautiful and well-lighted downtown attracts businesses and people to the area, says the city's Federal Plaza director.
That's what makes eighth annual Streetscape event so important, Director Claire Maluso said.
The Streetscape committee is kicking off its campaign today to raise money to plant thousands of flowers, plants and shrubs as well as to landscape and to remove debris downtown.
"If we beautify, clean up and light up the city, it will encourage more people to develop in the city," Maluso said. "We've been growing in the city."
Streetscape volunteers will plant and landscape from 8 a.m. to noon June 4.
Between now and June 4, Streetscape is seeking financial contributions and volunteers.
The financial effort is under way with $25,000 raised -- a $15,000 grant from the Mahoning County Recycling Division, and a $10,000 contribution from the former Downtown Partners, a disbanded group of downtown business officials, Maluso said. The 2004 effort raised about $14,000.
The event expanded last year to Commerce, Wood, Boardman and Champion streets, she said. About 100 people volunteered for last year's effort.
More areas
The plan this year is to increase the planting and landscaping areas to the John Young Memorial, the Madison and South avenues corridors, and near the site of the downtown convocation center currently under construction, Maluso said. The center is scheduled to open in November.
"We want to plant near the major gateways to the city to make a good impression," she said. "We are also concentrating on side streets near the convocation center."
Streetscape became a part of a nonprofit agency, Youngstown CityScape, late last year. CityScape pairs beautification efforts with education on preservation issues.
CityScape is an evolution of the Downtown Revitalization Committee, established in 1997 with preservation as an emphasis. Streetscape was an arm of the committee, but its work had come to overshadow its parent.
Financial contributions for the Streetscape project can be mailed to CityScape, P.O. Box 75, Youngstown 44501. Those wanting to volunteer for the June 4 event can call (330) 742-4040.