MONROE — In this tough economic time, Debbie Ashley can understand why the city would cut its flower budget.
Still, blooms bring something special to downtown.
That’s why the Monroe woman and a dozen other Monroe Garden Club members spent most of a recent morning filling planters along Main Street with flowers they helped buy.
“I know the economy is hard and difficult but we need to find beauty wherever we can,” said Ashley, as she tucked red impatiens into a planter.
The city can use all the help it can get.
The recession has hit the city of Monroe hard and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department took one of the biggest hits.
It lost five part-time seasonal workers and one full-time maintenance worker. The flower budget was slashed from $8,500 to $1,500. Workers plan to water grassy areas in parks far less to save money.
In total, the department has $108,681 less to spend than last year — about a 9 percent cut, said Mike Farrell, parks and recreation director.
“When you pare down resources, sometimes you lose the things that attract people to the community,” Martha Dankers of the Monroe Garden Club said. “Cutting out flowers is an understandable cut to make but it takes away from the overall first impression people have of the community.”
In the past, the Monroe Garden Club has helped the parks department with planting 39 concrete planters downtown. This year, they stepped up their efforts by donating $500 for plants and also volunteering to plant 52 baskets that hang from light poles downtown.
The hanging baskets are usually purchased already potted from an area grower.
More people and businesses around town are helping, too. Pine Creek Nursery donated plants at a reduced cost and Lowe’s Home Improvement also plans to donate plants at a reduced cost and help to fill landscaped islands along Main and Lewis streets.
Debra Smith: 425-339-3197, dsmith@heraldnet.com.
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