Founded in 2015, the Kokomo Beautiful initiative invites residents and organizations in Howard County to take ownership of our community by planting flowers and maintaining public garden areas. An initiative of the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, this campaign is made possible through partnerships with the City of Kokomo, Lybrook Landscaping, Howard County, Wildcat Guardians, Master Gardeners of Howard County, and Sunbelt Rentals.

This year’s Keep Kokomo Beautiful campaign will include one event in April and two in May. Susan Alexander, the Alliance’s manager of downtown creative placemaking, encourages advocacy groups, teams from businesses and organizations, and families and individuals to participate in the events.

The 2025 campaign kicks off Thursday, April 3 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 10. Then, from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, volunteers will plant the downtown container and alley gardens, meeting on the Courthouse Square at the corner of Main and Sycamore streets.

Get planting!

Volunteer for one or more of these events below.

New in 2025 is the Sidewalk Garden Club, where businesses and organizations can adopt a sidewalk garden along several walkways in downtown Kokomo. Contributors can display their pride for the heart of their community through their sponsorship.

Each sponsor will have a metal plaque staked into one of the gardens that will be available all year long. This investment will support purchasing plant stock for the Keep Kokomo Beautiful campaign, planting it, and administering volunteer engagement.