Soon after Tim Davlin
took office as mayor, his administration created a new organization,
Springfield Green, to promote city beautification.
The private-public partnership started as a coalition
with Downtown Springfield Inc. but has since expanded its reach beyond to
the corporate limits of Springfield and into neighboring Chatham and Leland
Grove, says Davlin’s spokesman, Ernie Slottag.
“The initial goal was to clean up and green up
the city,” he says. “As that got closer to being completed, we
looked at entrance routes to Springfield, starting at Sixth Street, then
Clear Lake, and this year they’re looking at Sangamon
Avenue.“
Funding for the Springfield Green effort, which is
co-chaired by Susan Mogerman and Todd Renfrow, has been donated by
business, Slottag says, including $5,000 a year for the past three years
from Ameren Corp.
“The Springfield Area Association of
Realtors has come up with a funding package, which totals $10,000, which
will be used for neighborhood grants.”
Springfield Green’s projects have included the
distribution of more than 10,000 flower bulbs earlier this year.
Springfield Green also has launched the “Yard
to Yard Challenge,” co-sponsored by Illinois National Bank, Ace
Hardware, and Illinois Times. The contest, open to businesses and homeowners within a 25-mile
radius of Springfield, awards prizes to people who do the best job of
“greening up” their front yards this summer. The entry deadline
is June 1. For more information, visit
www.illinoistimes.com/yardtoyard.html.
Springfield Green is offering memberships to
individuals and businesses ($50 and up), but membership is not a
requirement for grant assistance.
For more information about Springfield Green, visit
www.springfield.il.us/Green/whoweare.htm.
This article appears in May 12-18, 2005.
