By Aric Sleeper, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Calif. The Tribune Content Agency
SANTA CRUZ - Downtown Santa Cruz residents and visitors may have noticed that the Pacific Garden Mall has had a makeover recently with fresh paint jobs on light posts, new garbage containers, benches, signage, trees and polished planter fences.
The renovations and replacements are part of the city's recently completed Downtown Beautification Project, which was recognized by city workers and officials with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning.
Santa Cruz city workers and officials gathered at Pacific Avenue and Cooper Street Tuesday morning to celebrate the recently completed downtown beautification project. (Aric Sleeper - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
"We wanted to acknowledge and celebrate today the completion of the downtown revitalization and beautification project," said Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Director Tony Elliot at the ceremony. "The purpose and the vision behind this project, which ultimately improved and replaced about 1,200 different components - some large, some small, throughout the downtown - was a vibrant downtown and a safe downtown, a place that's successful for our business community and is welcoming to all. It feels fresh and feels new."
The project included the installation of new benches and trees, repainting more than 1,200 site furnishings such as lamp posts and bicycle racks, alongside fresh landscaping, new curb markings and upgraded seating areas, among other improvements.
Elliot mentioned that the week of Thanksgiving seemed an appropriate time to express gratitude to city workers and the project partners that made the downtown glow-up possible such as RRM Design Group, numerous local businesses and members of the Downtown Association.
"There's so many people to thank as part of this project," said Santa Cruz Parks Superintendent Mike Godsy. "I wanted to point out that we have Lance Wierschem from RRM Design. I wanted to thank you for your time and all of the work you did getting our key stakeholders together and all the outreach efforts. Taking that a step further, you can see all of the many city personnel here from public works, parking, economic development, sanitation and the parks department."
*
About 25 new benches were installed in downtown Santa Cruz as part of a beautification project. (Aric Sleeper - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
*
Workers and officials from the city of Santa Cruz gathered to celebrate the completion of the downtown beautification project that brough paint jobs to light posts, new signage, benches and garbage containers. (Aric Sleeper - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
About 25 new benches were installed in downtown Santa Cruz as part of a beautification project. (Aric Sleeper - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Expand
Godsy then thanked the Downtown Association, which is made up of local business owners, for its part in the Pacific Garden Mall makeover. He introduced Downtown Association Executive Director Jorian Wilkins, who pointed out that the project gives all of the shops downtown heightened curb appeal.
"There are about 300 businesses in the downtown district," said Wilkins. "The comments I've heard about the new paint colors are that people love it and it looks great. (The project) was so well designed, so well planned and received. On behalf of all the businesses downtown and also as a resident, knowing that so many people are going to enjoy this too, thank you to everyone at the city that made this happen."
Following Wilkins, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley spoke alongside city Councilmember Sonja Brunner, who is also part of the Downtown Association team.
"I know so many hands touched this project and it's been decades in the making," said Brunner. "I've worked downtown for 31 years now and I've never seen the brass polished on the fencing around the planter areas. It just lights it up and makes it so beautiful."