North Adams Considering 'Adopt an Island' Beautification Plan
 Mayor Richard Alcombright shows Tree Commissioners Chairwoman Patricia LeClair and Jane Betti what he would like to change in City Hall's landscaping. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Traffic islands around the city could be in for some beautification.
Mayor Richard Alcombright is hoping the community will get involved in spreading greenery after being inspired by an "adopt an island" program in Ipswich.
But first, he'd like to revamp Dr. Arthur Rosenthal Square on West Main Street across from City Hall. And that could mean the elimination of one of the city's Christmas trees.
"I still think it might be a great demonstration project for all these different islands in the city," he said, adding the islands lack maintenance. "We don't even mulch them anymore ... all the islands from the Veterans Memorial down to McDonalds, it used to be all planted and now it's weeds."
Ispwich instituted its program to beautify the entrance to the town. Organizations or individuals adopt a traffic island and agree to plant and maintain it according the town's rules, which include plant height, mulch color and submitting a design plan.
"They have done the whole downtown," the mayor told the Tree Commission on Monday. "They have flowers and perennial grasses."
The Tree Commission, which did not have a quorum, endorsed the idea without a vote. But Chairwoman Patricia LeClair and Commissioner Jane Betti also thought it critical to have a garden club to help with islands and to maintain the city's pocket parks.
The club dissolved several years ago in part because of a lack of members. Francesca Shanks said she had spoken with some people who might be interested in resurrecting it.
Betti noted the job that Williamstown does in maintaining the flower pots along the bridge entering the town and in other areas.
"Williamstown has more than 100 members, some of whom just give money," said LeClair.
"We need to re-establish the garden club," agreed the mayor, thinking club volunteers could take over the small neighborhood pockets. First though, he said, "we need to inventory who does what and where and why."
He would like the first island redo to be Rosenthal Square as a demonstration of what can be done because of the poor condition of the shrubbery on the east side facing Main Street. Any plantings would need to obscure the low electrical box in the square.
There was a general agreement that continuing to place a Christmas tree there would disrupt any planting scheme. And planting a tree could cause root problems with the electrical junction there.
"It's an obstacle when you have a big tree there," LeClair said. "It would look pretty when you come down Main Street and you don't have to try to find a tree ... It's getting harder to find trees."
Betti agreed that lights could be placed on the shrubbery instead. "It doesn't have to be elaborate."
At the same time, the mayor would like to pull the brown and gangly shrubbery off the City Hall lawn as well. It's a project he's been considering for a couple years but has been on the back burner as the Department of Public Works has been dealing with water and sewer breaks.
Because the small wall lettering for City Hall is nearly obscured by trees, he'd like to install a more prominent sign on the corner identifying the building and services such as veterans services and BerkshireWorks.
"I think it would be a good idea to get a landscaper to give us ideas," said Betti.
Alcombright agreed, "but we need a clean canvas."
The commissioners also discussed the idea of dedicating a tree at the new Colegrove Park Elementary School in the name of the Tree Commission for Arbor Day. Alcombright said he was looking into other ways to honor those who were recognized by the planting of five trees at Sullivan School, since the trees cannot be moved to Colegrove.
The ideas have been a single plaque with all the names, single plaques or memorial pavers. Alcombright said he wanted to speak with the families. LeClair said she would not want the memorials to be left behind if it were her family member.
"I would be happy if it were me to know that they weren't forgotten," she said.
Tags: gardens, landscaping, public parks, tree commission,
