Downtown Beautification

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – A group of Zanesville residents display a little extra pride in their community by incorporating a touch of flair throughout the downtown.

Muskingum Valley Garden Society Irrigation Specialist Darlene Turner explained how the downtown beautification efforts began and how each year, they continue to expand.  

“The irrigated plants are on Fifth Street from the Welcome Center clear down to Dutro,” Turner said. “Dutro’s all irrigated. Also the Third Street section here, this was put in here about 4 or 5 years ago in front of the police station, that’s under irrigation as well. Also there’s a Third Street Section between Third and Main, there’s about 12 containers there that have irrigation as well. So and also Fourth Street at the Welcome Center and the Senior Citizen Center, From there up to Market is also irrigated.”

Turner praised the city’s cooperation and said the efforts wouldn’t be possible without the support of personal donations in addition to the financial assistance from area philanthropic organizations. 

“Each pot runs about $6 dollars a piece,” Turner said. “The Y-Bridge has four 6 inch pots that’s about $40 in the Y-Bridge and also the Sixth Street Bridge and then we have about 8 plants or 7 plants per container at about $6 dollars a piece. So you’re looking at about $50 dollars a piece for the plants and materials in the pots. So we’re talking $5,000 or 6,000 dollars at least, of plants.”

Turner believes the beautification efforts throughout the downtown break up a drab concrete and brick aesthetic by adding a vibrant splash of color. The baskets along the bridges are lined with a coconut fiber that provides excellent moisture retention and breathability.