It took many hands, lots of muscle and focused leadership to keep the Abita Springs's beautification community's commitment last year to carry out small, inexpensive, impactful projects that would quickly improve the look of public areas in need of some attention and TLC.
It also took some money, which was supplied by a Keep Louisiana Beautiful grant, supplemented by lots of volunteer hours and in-kind contributions. Keep Abita Beautiful collaborated with the town to submit the grant request.
The first of the promised projects completed was the transformation of property at the traffic circle that once housed a small gazebo in dire need of upgrading into a community garden, and the second was the renovation and improvement of space around the sewer lift station (across from Walgreens on La. 59 and Harrison Avenue) to feature a new lighted "Welcome" sign and native, low-maintenance landscaping.
The new sign was installed in March but remained covered — and drawing lots of public interest — until the surrounding, unsightly area was cleaned up and landscaped. Local resident and landscape architect Mike Lanaux designed the native garden, local artist Dave Kelsey designed and built the entrance sign, and town Public Works employees stained the fence.
The new sign was unveiled May 23.
Both projects will continue to grow and require maintenance by volunteers and town workers, but the installation phase is complete, and now, the town of Abita and its beautification leaders asking residents what else they want to see upgraded or transformed. Email project ideas to jdufrene@abitaspringsla.gov.
Whatever projects are tackled next, volunteers and donations will again need to be a part of the response, as that is traditionally the way smaller beautification grants are stretched.
In fact, the last beautification grant required that volunteers be used as much as possible to complete the work, and both Keep Abita Beautiful and the Abita Springs Garden Club stepped up. Members installed plants, a drip irrigation system and mulch. In addition to fence work, Public Works employees also brought in topsoil and used a power augur to dig more than 85 planting holes. Electrical connections and water spigots were installed; local farmers market vendor and business owner Irene Damby donated goat compost to improve the soil, and Abita nursery owner Craig Houin worked with the town to provide plants for the project.
Grant requirements required that the garden include a minimum threshold of at least 25% native plants, but Lanaux provided all native plants and volunteers planted a variety of compact magnolias, sweet bay magnolias, pink muhly grasses and dwarf palmettos.
The town of Abita Springs urges legislators to continue increased funding for Keep Louisiana for the kind of grants that made these projects possible.