The project to beautify Alpine Boulevard is moving forward with the help of a major sponsor and the first planting!
The Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce, the Back Country Land Trust (BCLT) and the Certified Community Wildlife Habitat are organizing the effort to return trees and plants to small dirt plots left bare after years of major construction on Alpine’s main street.
“The Chamber is proud to partner with the community to beautify the boulevard,” said Alex Ward, the Chamber’s executive director. “We think customers and visitors will enjoy the additional greenery.”
Ace Hardware has donated topsoil to help drought-tolerant native plants grow, said Jon Green, BCLT program and outreach director.
“Ace donated 60 bags of topsoil from their business,” Green said. “They special ordered a pallet for us. Having that topsoil is the first step in rebuilding the soil.”
Manager Tim Mathews of Ace Hardware in the Alpine Creek Town Center at 1347 Tavern Road said the donated topsoil is part of Ace’s ongoing community service.
“We want to be involved to actively show that we care for our community,” Mathews said.
Becky Wyrick is co-owner of Alpine Motorsports & Equipment Repair at 2435 Alpine Blvd., where the first planting has been done.
Wyrick said she doesn’t have a plot big enough for trees so she chose two small plants. She waters them several times a week.
“I go out there with a little jug, pour a little water on them,” Wyrick said. “It’s not that hard.”
BCLT is donating 500 plants for the project through a Lush Cosmetics grant. The Chamber is helping with permits for plots on San Diego County right of way. Certified Community Wildlife Habitat is signing up volunteers to water the plants.
“All the planting areas that have signed on so far, about eight, have water volunteers,” Green said. “Volunteers are actually clamoring to help. People want to participate. It’s a nice start.”
He said Saturday, Dec. 1, will be Volunteer Day for the community project.
Everyone interested will meet at The Alpine Sun newspaper at 2144 Alpine Blvd. for another planting and to clean up the boulevard, Green said.
“It’s nice to have the community looking nice,” Wyrick said. “Anything’s better than the little dirt lot they (construction) left us with.”
For more information, to be a sponsor or to volunteer to water plants, call the Chamber at (619) 445-2722 or e-mail backcountrylandtrust@gmail.com; lorib@alpinechamber.com or carletteanderson@aol.com.
