Ridgewood Summer Beautification Program

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

The Ridgewood Neighborhood Association in collaboration with Richland County Community Development created the Ridgewood Summer Beautification Program as a vehicle to cultivate and maintain six neighborhood gardens located at gateways and intersections. Ten youth, ages 13-18, were recruited to perform gardening tasks during the summer months. The installation of the beautification sites was among the projects proposed in the 2005 Ridgewood Association and qualified as either being a barren eyesore or the location was designated best place for a neighborhood sign. The gardens varied in size ranging from 4x4 to approximately 400 square feet. Some locations are fully shaded while others are part shade to full sun, with two areas having irrigation. A variety of plant species was selected by members of the neighborhood association designed and installed the others. This beautification project is the highlight of this community and became a vehicle by which many additional things have resulted. This beautification project not only provided an aesthetically pleasing view, but brought youth and senior residents together to learn from each other and be empowered, spurred a park with walking trail as well as be a catalyst to attract residential and commercial revitalization to a once heavily dilapidated area.