SYRACUSE - If you’re driving through Syracuse you might notice something different.
The recently formed Beautification Committee in Syracuse has been busy living up to its name. On Tuesday, they unveiled flowerpot planters and banners they placed on light poles in Wawasee Village area — all the way to uptown. From Crosson Mill Park to the south end of town 53 flowers pots and sail-shaped banners stating “This is Syracuse” brighten up the area.
Town Manager David Wilkinson said they had the banners in storage but last summer they left up the veterans banners. Those will reappear in November.
The Beautification Committee just formed in November and includes Wilkinson, Clerk-Treasurer Virginia Cazier, Councilwoman Cindy Kaiser, Chamber Director Ashley Dillon, Michelle Owens, Will Bennett, Kip Schumm and Park Superintendent Chad Jonsson.
Dillon said they recently cleaned under the billboard. Wilkinson said future plans include new way-finding signs to direct folks to public amenities and new gateway signs at each end of town. They’ll also form a sub-committee for Christmas decorations.
Wilkinson said the beautification committee also reviews and approves the façade grant applications and so far, two have been awarded — one for Krista Lynn Design uptown and the other for the new owners of the old Polar Kraft building. The façade grant program is a matching grant of up to $5,000.
The beautification committee meets once a month, generally on the second Tuesday of the month.
“It’s just a group of volunteers doing a lot of good,” Wilkinson said.