Euclid Avenue Blooms with New Planters, Benches

Euclid residents, volunteers, City officials and staff helped to plant mums in new planters on Euclid Avenue earlier this fall.

In early September a half dozen stalwart volunteers from Keep Euclid Beautiful planted giant, tri-colored mums from Cavotta’s Garden Center on Euclid Avenue. These volunteers were accompanied by Mayor Holzheimer Gail, Councilperson Caviness and nearby residents along with staff from the City’s Department of Planning and Development.

The planting was triggered by the installation of new planters at the five most populous bus stops along the corridor (from E.193rd to E.276th Streets). These locations were selected for street furniture upgrades after studying ridership data provided by the RTA. In addition, new metal benches replaced older wooden ones in a style that compliments the new planters as well as trash cans added throughout Euclid Avenue in 2017.

Councilwoman Caviness, Ward 1, was thrilled with the new furniture and looks forward to future improvements on Euclid Avenue. “Public spaces, such as a bus stop, are integral parts of a major city,” she commented. “As a child, I recall standing and waiting for a time that seemed to pass at a glacial pace, especially in the winter months.  The stops seemed cold and uninviting. Nothing about them was welcoming. Back then, while I wished that my family had a car, at that moment I would, at times, just wish for a comfortable and pleasant place to sit.”

“The addition of the wrought iron benches and planters with mums, brought back those memories,” Caviness continued. “They not only provide adequate seating at strategic locations but a little pleasantry (for both transit riders and neighborhood residents enjoying a walk). The benches and planters say to the community that the City cares.”

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The project is part of a city-wide municipal beautification program that provides amenities like bike racks, benches and trash cans along city sidewalks, funded by the Community Development Block Grant. Last year Council approved a plan to enhance the pedestrian waiting environment around RTA public transit stops on Euclid Avenue. We look forward to continued investments on Euclid Avenue this fall and into the future including new concrete landing pads in between the curb and the sidewalk at bus stops along the corridor.