VERO BEACH — Volunteers from various Vero Beach organizations and government agencies descended on 14th Avenue Saturday morning, toting brooms, paint brushes, scrapers and ladders, ready to tackle a one block cleanup effort.
A project that started as a simple request to plant flower baskets on light poles quickly expanded in scope to include scraping gum off the sidewalks, painting the trash cans and concrete planters and other such work.
“It kind of blossomed,” said Vicky Gould, project chair of the Main Street Vero Beach Design Committee, which oversaw what she hopes is the first of many beautification days in downtown Vero Beach.
“This is taking enough work,” she said, noting that one block was enough for the first time.
“It looks a lot better than it did,” said volunteer Kathleen MacGlennon while painting one of the trash cans a turquoise blue. “We should have done a before and after (photo).”
MacGlennon is a member of the Bougainvillea Circle of the Vero Beach Garden Club, which donated the flowers to be planted as part of the beautification effort.
Among the volunteers who turned out on Saturday were Vero Beach Mayor Pilar Turner and City Councilwoman Tracy Carroll, County Commissioner Peter O’Bryan and County Attorney Alan Polackwich.
“No question, people care about (downtown),” Turner said, taking a break from raking the bump-outs to loosen weeds.
She said she was surprised by the turnout given the busy holiday season.
For Chris Runge, a member of the Vero Beach Tree and Beautification Commission, helping out with the cleanup was his way of giving back to the city that raised him.
“It’s a wonderful thing to work alongside fellow residents,” Runge said. “It does my heart good.”
Carroll said that if she weren’t on 14th Avenue planting flowers and plants, she would have been home planting impatiens.
“It’s been fun,” she said of helping in the effort as she took a quick break from sweeping the edge of the road.
While she was away from home, Carroll said her family was getting started on decorating for Christmas.
“All I can do is hope!” she said.
Gould said she would like to expand the cleanup effort south of State Road 60 and north of 21st Street later. In order to do so, Main Street Vero Beach is seeking the public’s help with funding more hanging planters and volunteers to continue the work.
Anyone interested in getting involved in the downtown beautification effort is encouraged to contact Main Street Vero Beach by calling (772) 480-8353 or email info@mainstreetverobeach.org.