Greening of Downtown Project Receives $15,000 Grant

Oct. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- The Town of Fountain Hills “Greening of Downtown” project has been awarded a $15,000 Community Challenge Grant. The funds for this project were provided by the Urban Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program which is administered through the State of Arizona Forestry Division.  The project has been designated by the State of Arizona as the official State Centennial Project for Fountain Hill, commemorating 100 years of statehood.
The Greening project was a perfect match for the grant criteria, which included the used of extensive volunteer and private funding to create a project that added trees to our environment, and included an educational element.  The Low Water Landscaping Demonstration Garden and the addition of shade to the walking, seating and recreational areas of Fountain Park will provide the projects and the volunteer opportunities to satisfy the grant’s criteria.

The Greening of Downtown volunteers have raised $53,000 in 2010, an amazing feat in these economic times.   “We hope that more individuals will use the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays as a way to commemorate special people and events with the purchase of a “leaf” to support the project,” indicates Jenny Willigrod, fundraising chair of the Greening of Downtown project. “The leaves, like other “buy a brick” programs give people the opportunity to commemorate a special person, event, or the names of their kids, or grandkids.  The price ranges from $200 to $500, which will be used to purchase more shade in Fountain Park.  The first grove was planted near the performance pad in the park to provide more shade for concerts in the Park.”

The Greening of Downtown project is a joint project of the Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Fountain Hills, the Business Vitality Advisory Council (BVAC) and the Fountain Hills Civic and Cultural Association.  Greening Chair Jerry Butler has brought together a group of interested citizens who are working together to translate this first phase of the downtown vitality plan into a reality. “We’re inviting individuals and families to join us on October 23rd for “Make a difference Day” in Fountain Hills.  We need dozens of volunteers with shovels and rakes to join us in the park to help plant the landscaping plants for the Wildflower Garden and the Demonstration Garden.  This kind of effort is a prime example of how Fountain Hills prospers because of this Town’s unique ‘can do’ spirit.”

Individuals wanting to donate time, in kind help and money to the project can find out more by going to www.fountainhillscca.org, or can indicate their interest at fhgreening@cox.net.

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