Saturday, March 20, 2010
By DAVID SKOLNICK
skolnick@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
This year’s Streetscape planting day will include improvements to rundown pedestrian islands on West Federal Street.
For the 13th year, volunteers will remove garbage as well as trim and plant flowers and shrubs in the city’s downtown as part of Streetscape’s planting day. The event will be from 8 a.m. to noon June 5.
Officials with Youngstown CityScape, which oversees the Streetscape program, kicked off the fund-raising and volunteer-recruitment drive Friday.
“The downtown has made such a big change over the years, and the planting has added to that,” said Councilwoman Annie Gillam, D-1st. Gillam is on the Streetscape committee, and her ward includes the city’s downtown.
Last year’s planting day included about 400 volunteers and raised more than $150,000, said Sharon Letson, CityScape’s executive director.
The Streetscape work will focus on Wick Park, West and East Federal streets, the John Young Memorial, the Police Memorial at Front Street and South Avenue, the Choffin Hillside and city hall.
In addition to cleaning up garbage and planting, Streetscape volunteers will make improvements to pedestrian islands on West Federal Street between Fifth Avenue and Phelps Street.
The islands, which include flowers and trees, have damaged metal fences and a lack of lighting, Letson said.
Some of the money raised will go toward new fencing and lights that shine up from the ground, she said.
“We’ve been a part of the rebirth of downtown both in beautification and renovation,” said Pete Asimakopoulos, president of CityScape’s board of directors and an executive with First National Bank.
Those wanting to volunteer or donate money should go to CityScape’s Web site — youngstowncityscape.com — to fill out forms, or call the organization at (330) 742-4040.