Opinion: A Conversation with St. Augustine Beauty
By BILL LEARY
Special to The Record
Publication Date: 06/07/09
I find beauty relaxing and good for the soul, whether strolling along the bayfront, crossing the little bridge over the koi pond in the Lightner Building courtyard, gazing across a sunlit expanse of marsh, walking among the palm trees at Flagler College, or visiting the Pea-Peck House gardens.
I've had a number of conversations with folks lately about beauty and the absence thereof. Though the city maintains beautiful medians on Anastasia Boulevard and parts of U.S. 1, many people express disappointment with our entry corridors. They wish we used more trees, shrubs and flowers to better welcome locals and visitors. I'm told San Marco Avenue once had a tree canopy like Magnolia Avenue but that the oaks were cut down to widen the road to entice tourists downtown and off the new U.S. 1 "beltway." Sad.
Still others complain that St. George and neighboring streets present a dull pallet of indiscernible tan and grey shades. Even the palm trees along the St. George Street pedestrian way rise from grey planters that feature grey dirt and trash.
Even without the need to spruce up for the coming 450th commemoration of St. Augustine looming over us, I've heard concerns that these conditions adversely impact our downtown commerce, make our town seem less enticing, lower our property values and affect our sense of pride in our community.
The entry corridors of Anastasia Boulevard, King Street and San Marco Avenue are regulated to some extent as to location, style, size and color of buildings and signs. The city does a lot, too, with its limited budget to maintain medians, parks and other city property. But it does not appear to have the funds to significantly alter the entryway landscape as other communities have done, including planting trees and placing utilities underground.
Chuck Lippi, chair of the city's Street Tree Advisory Committee, believes we could successfully plant medium-sized trees such as scrub oaks, a variety of hollies, crepe myrtles or palms along several of our entry corridors. He doubts there is available space for a live oak canopy.
Esther Whetstone told me several years ago the Garden Club of St. Augustine provided flowers for pots and window boxes downtown, but merchants failed to maintain them and they suffered from vandalism.
Current Garden Club President Susan Swain told me the Garden Club might try it again if more merchants would commit and a plan could be developed to use native plants and plants more tolerant of heat. Lippi also thinks more trees could be planted in courtyards along downtown streets to create a canopy.
Maybe there is a landscape architect or certified Master Gardener out there who could develop an inexpensive but manageable plan for downtown. Maybe one that is historically correct. Maybe merchants could be persuaded that a little watering would bring smiles to passersby and loosen their wallets. Maybe the city could run a watering cart down the street occasionally. Maybe vandalism could be controlled. Maybe there could be a window box contest or an "adopt a tree" program. Maybe the same could be done for other commercial areas and along our entry corridors, such as King Street and San Marco Avenue.
Maybe civic organizations could be persuaded to apply a little sweat equity and cash for such projects. Maybe neighborhood associations and simple clusters of neighbors could be enticed by the city to take on beautification projects. Maybe you would join a small group to develop a plan and present it to the city.
Yes, these things cost money, but other communities have found a return on investment in terms of enhanced commerce and property values. Besides, what the price of a smile?
Bill Leary is a member of the Planning and Zoning Board of the City of St. Augustine. He invites your thoughts and comments to the Record at letters@staugustine.com or at bill.leary4@yahoo.com
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