ALPENA — As spring draws near, the initiative led by volunteer Julie Dietz and Alpena Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Johnson is planned to beautify the downtown again this year. Last year, 30 businesses and individuals came together to beautify the district by planting flowers purchased from Kipfmiller’s Produce and Nursery around the trees along Chisholm Street and throughout downtown with the help of many volunteers. Through one day of planting flowers and cleaning up the downtown district, volunteers were able to transform the downtown out of winter hibernation and into spring.

“This group effort of beautification is an amazing thing to see because with just a bit of time and care, the community is able to take the downtown district from something that is gloomy from long, hard winter months to something that is truly inviting,” said Kady Gehrke, marketing and outreach coordinator of the Alpena Downtown Development Authority. “We are very excited to see this initiative continue to thrive and make the community happy each year.”

For $50, individuals, businesses, and organizations can sponsor a flat of flowers that will be planted along the bases of the trees throughout downtown. Each sponsor will have a small sign that will be placed near their tree to acknowledge their generosity. The date of the flower planting and clean-up day will be in late May again, with an official date soon to be announced. Besides the planting of flowers near the bases of the trees, any additional funds will be allocated to purchasing hanging baskets of flowers to further beautify the downtown.

Donations may be made online at downtownalpena.square.site or by mailing a check to: Alpena DDA, 124 E. Chisholm St., Alpena, MI 49707.

For more information, contact the DDA at downtownalpenami@gmail.com.