Jamestown’s front yard gardens have been filling neighborhoods with eye-catching textures and colors. To acknowledge the value that these gardens and their caretakers add to the city, the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation is continuing the GROW Jamestown Front Yard Garden Recognition Program for an eighth straight year.

“The GROW Jamestown Front Yard Garden Recognition Program is a way to acknowledge home gardeners who contribute to the curb appeal of Jamestown’s neighborhoods — and to encourage all residents to take part in making Jamestown a more beautiful place. This program was created to encourage pride and acknowledge the efforts made by many of the residents of Jamestown. It is not set up as a competition.” said Mary Maxwell, JRC neighborhood project associate.

This year the survey will return to the summer gardens of Jamestown with 780 signs to disperse, the most in the program’s history.

The 12,000 front yards of Jamestown have been divided into 37 sections, with each section containing approximately 325 front yards. 37 volunteer teams will form to complete the garden survey. Each team will be assigned to cover one section of the city, and is comprised of a driver, a photographer to take a photo of the property and a data entry person to document a list of where the signs were placed.

Between Monday, July 9, and Monday, July 30, each team will survey their section of the city, determine the “norm” for that section, and then decide which front yard gardens they wish to acknowledge and encourage by bestowing a 2018 yard sign.

“Attractive gardens take time and effort, but they add tremendously to the appearance of homes and entire neighborhoods,” said Maxwell, noting that the program stems from recommendations in the city’s neighborhood revitalization plan. “It’s a signal that people care about their homes and neighborhoods, and it sends a powerful message to neighbors and visitors.”

The program is a part of GROW Jamestown, a city-wide initiative that promotes gardening as a tool for neighborhood revitalization, healthy living, civic engagement and the productive reuse of vacant land. Other GROW Jamestown projects include community gardens, an annual Garden Fair and Home Show in the spring and the Great June Seedling Giveaway.

“This year’s program is possible because of over 100 volunteers who will canvass our city to find gardens they wish to recognize. Their interest in devoting time to this project shows the level of enthusiasm that people have for gardening and celebrating Jamestown’s beauty,” said Maxwell. “This project is the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation’s way to say thank you for the color, character and beauty the residents bring to our wonderful city.” A big thanks also goes out to the volunteers of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) for helping to collate and organize the informational materials.

For more information on GROW Jamestown and the garden recognition program, visit www.jamestownrenaissance.org. To sign up as a volunteer, contact Mary Maxwell at 489-3493 or email mary@jamestownrenaissance.org.