Keep Kokomo Beautiful campaign seeks volunteers
Annual initiative will see the planting of more than 1,000 flower baskets
KOKOMO, Ind. (Feb. 16, 2024) – In just a few weeks, volunteers will plant more than 1,000 flower baskets in an assembly-line fashion. Those baskets will go on to adorn streetlights around the Kokomo community this summer. It’s all part of a Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance initiative known as Keep Kokomo Beautiful. This annual campaign invites residents, businesses and community organizations to lend a hand and keep our community looking beautiful through flower baskets and downtown garden planting.
The event is in its 10th year and has enjoyed tremendous community support since its beginning, said Susan Alexander, manager of downtown creative placemaking for the Alliance.
“The beauty of the thousands of blossoms gracing Kokomo as a result of this initiative is not only inherent but also magnified by the collective dedication of the volunteers who sow and care for them,” Alexander said.
This year’s Keep Kokomo Beautiful campaign will include one event in April and two in May. Alexander encourages advocacy groups, teams from businesses and organizations, and families and individuals to participate in the events.
“At its core, this initiative isn’t about flowers. These events aim to nurture a sense of pride among residents for their community, empowering them to take ownership,” Alexander said. “As a volunteer, you become a vital part of something greater than individual pursuits.”
The 2024 campaign kicks off Thursday, April 4 with flower basket planting at Lybrook Landscaping, 4476 S. 00 East-West, Kokomo. The plantings will be done in two sessions, from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.
The planting resumes in May as volunteers will gather for two workdays. First up will be annual planting at the City Hall Gazebo, 100 S. Union St., from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11. Then, from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, volunteers will plant the downtown container and alley gardens, meeting on the Courthouse Square at the corner of Main and Sycamore streets.
All three events are free and open to the public. Participants are encouraged to bring along work gloves, knee pads and their favorite gardening tools to each event.
To register for Keep Kokomo Beautiful events, visit GreaterKokomo.com/volunteer-downtown.
An initiative of the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, this campaign is made possible through partnerships with the City of Kokomo, Lybrook Landscaping, Backyard Gardeners, Howard County, Wildcat Guardians, Howard County Stormwater District, Discover Howard County Trails and Sunbelt Rentals.
For more information, contact Casie Braden at 765-457-5301 or by email at cbraden@greaterkokomo.com.
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About the Greater Kokomo Downtown Association
The Greater Kokomo Downtown Association is a network of individuals, volunteers, and businesses committed to preserving, promoting, and enhancing the vitality of downtown Kokomo through economic development, design initiatives, and community engagement. The Association’s goal is to create a downtown ecosystem where businesses thrive, residents flourish, and visitors explore in a harmonious community atmosphere.