Group has plans for more plantings

Last year, 250 volunteers participated in the planting effort.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city's downtown beautification organization is celebrating its ninth year with plans for more enhancements beginning this spring.
A breakfast marking Streetscape's anniversary was planned for this morning at the D.D. and Velma Davis Center at Mill Creek MetroParks Fellows Riverside Gardens. Streetscape has a nonprofit board of directors, Youngstown City Scape.
Claire Maluso, Federal Plaza director in the city's Office of Economic Development, said the effort and the number of people involved has grown each year.
"Last year, we had 250 volunteers that helped us," she said.
This morning's breakfast was to include remarks from members of the board of directors including Dr. David Sweet, president of Youngstown State University; Mayor Jay Williams; and Councilman Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st; and a donation from the Better Business Bureau, Maluso said.
This year's theme is "Planting Pride in Youngstown," and planting begins June 3 downtown.
"We're replanting the whole city," the director said.
2005 accomplishments
Some of last year's accomplishments include enhancement of four flower beds on Central Square, completion of a walkway to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, expansion of landscaping at the Smoky Hollow Veterans Memorial, planting of Garden Bunker planter at northwest corner of Champion and Boardman streets and of the stairway between Wood and Commerce streets.
The Mahoning Avenue gateway into downtown also was enhanced through a partnership with the Mahoning Commons Association, and planters were installed on Federal Street.
Another fruit of Streetscape's efforts will be evident this spring when more than 5,000 tulip and daffodil bulbs planted last fall begin to bloom.
"Plans are under way to improve the Wick Avenue, Madison Avenue and South Avenue corridors, and the John Young Memorial," she said. "Other areas are to be announced."