Flowerscape Program
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Flowerscape began in 1982 when Judy Isroff, KAB's Executive Coordinator, was confident that Akron could emulate Cuyahoga Falls, its neighbor to the North, and managed to convince the KAB Board of Trustees that a similar beautification program was worth pursuing.
KAB hired a part-time Flowerscape Director and contracted with the Portage Path Mental Health Center for the labor force. KAB planted approximately 17,250 flowers and paid a flower bill of $2,020.12. With the direction and assistance of the City Planning Department, the following were the first seven sites to be planted:
Main Street Planters
South Main Street Median: at Goodrich
West Market Street & Rand: corner at Innerbelt
Derby Downs
Broadway & South: triangle near Expressway
Voris & Broadway: two exits at Expressway exit
Grant Street: flower beds at Exchange, Wheeler (6 beds) and at tip
Throughout the years, the KAB flowerscape program has grown from 7 sites to 40, and the annual cost of flowers has grown from $2,000 to over $23,000. Since the start of the program in 1982, over 1 Million flowers have been planted and beautifying the City of Akron!
In 2010, there were KAB Flowerscapes sites on every traffic island, city corner and expressway ramp downtown. In addition, there were floral displays at Alexander Park, Cotter Park, Lock III Park and Canal Park Stadium! The 40 beautification locations had over 39,000 plants installed and the most advanced computerized timers controlling the sprinkling systems. The 2010 Flowerscape budget was $150,000 but as the program has become more efficient and professional over the years, the agency has managed to keep the budget stable.
The degree of pride generated by these oases of color was well worth the continued support of the private sector, from which supplemental monies for this public project was raised.
It takes full-time Flowerscape Director, Polly Kaczmarek, months to do landscape plans and place nursery orders so that just about the time citizens are picking up litter, our paid Foremen and crews are preparing the beds for another successful season of blooming color!
