Springfield Green

MAYOR TIM DAVLIN READYING SPRINGFIELD FOR 2009 AMERICA IN BLOOM COMPETITION

In a Springfield Green luncheon with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, Davlin called out to beautification committee members and supporters to help develop an even cleaner and greener Capital City for its participation in a national beautification promotion.

“We’re very excited about the new opportunities that lie ahead for the City of Springfield through 2009 with our Springfield In Bloom initiatives as well as our Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration activities that year,” said Mayor Davlin. “Modeling just a few initiatives of what Mayor Daley and the City of Chicago has been able to accomplish with gateway and street-side landscaping, along with our partnership between business and government, has already started to make a big difference in the City of Springfield.”

            Springfield Green’s most notable projects include downtown container garden plantings, gateway landscaping projects on South Grand Avenue, Wabash Avenue and South Sixth Street; Adopt-a-Street litter program. The program was also just awarded with the Garden Clubs of Illinois’ 2007 Award for Roadside Beautification for Illinois Department of Transportation’s Region 4.

            Davlin also noted moves to go to double-headed parking meters and to paint sign posts and other structures downtown black as some of the infrastructure improvements the City of Springfield was able to mimic from downtown Chicago. The Springfield Park District’s Southwind Park project and City tree planting initiatives were credited as great green space developments as well.

            Mayor Daley agreed that the City of Springfield has a good start in clean and green initiatives. “Springfield can be well on its way to a more vibrant, beautiful and environmentally-friendly community with the backing of Springfield Green supporters and elected officials like Mayor Davlin,” he said. “I truly believe that the cities that thrive in the 21^st century will be the ones that embrace environmentalism as a way of life. I want Chicago to be one of those cities, and I hope Springfield is, too.”

            America In Bloom is an organization dedicated to promoting nationwide beautification programs and both personal and community involvement through the use of flowers, plants, trees and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements, and to providing educational programs and resources to that end. The City of Springfield will be judged in the 100,001 to 300,000 population category in the areas of Floral Displays; Tidiness; Landscaped Areas; Urban Forestry; Heritage; Community Involvement; Turf & Groundcovers and Environmental Effort.  

            Mayor Davlin said the Springfield In Bloom program, which recognizes landscaping efforts in residential and commercial projects, “is the catalyst for preparing the City’s private ground projects.” Categories in this program include front yard gardens, business gardens, neighborhood association projects and container gardens.

            “Working with Springfield Green’s partnerships with the Springfield Civic Garden Club, Springfield Park District and our community leaders, we hope to move forward in the areas of beautification and be a real contender in America In Bloom,” Davlin added.

            Attendees of the event were asked to fill out pledge cards on their future commitment to City of Springfield greening. Planting trees, addressing litter, joining an America In Bloom committee, landscaping and financial support were all options on the cards guests were provided. On-site registration for Springfield In Bloom and America In Bloom were also available at this event. Details for both programs can be found at www.springfieldinbloom.org.

            Making the first pledge was the Springfield Area Homebuilders Association, who presented Springfield Green with $1,000 for summer plant material for the downtown pots. Dave Bender with the Illinois Green Industry Association sponsored the luncheon for the Springfield Green society.

            Springfield Green is a City- and community-driven program established by Mayor Davlin in 2004 to beautify Springfield with plants, flowers and trees through public ground projects supported by individual and corporate donations and grants.