Street Garden Project returns for second year!

Portland Village District 2024 Street Garden Project

The Portland River Valley Garden Club and the Economic Development Commission invites all businesses and property owners/renters to improve the visual appeal of our downtown business district by signing on to participate in our second annual Street Garden Project. The goal of this project is to increase the visual appeal of our town center leading to an enhanced sense of pride in our community by Portland residents and a positive feel for our town from those passing through.  

This program will recognize businesses that make a special effort to use plants and flowers in the front of their establishments for the pleasure of residents and visitors to our community. Last year, it was met with great enthusiasm from both residents and business owners, and created lots of positive feedback in town.

A “Street Garden” is defined as a large or small garden containing living plants (not artificial).  This garden should be easily viewed from the street by customers and the general public.  

It may consist of the following options:

• Large or small in-ground planted area(s)

• Planted containers in urns, barrels, window boxes or other creations

• Professionally-designed garden (new category based on last year’s feedback)

There is no cost to enter your “Street Garden.”  We only ask that you commit to taking care of the plantings throughout the growing season, which includes watering and weeding.  If any plants die throughout the growing season, please remove or consider replacing them.  

The deadline to register for the Street Garden project is May 11, 2024. Gardens should be planted by May 25, 2024. Members of the Portland River Valley Garden Club will place a marker in your garden in early June to show your customers and others that you are participating in the program. Garden Club members will photograph each entry and the pictures will be displayed on the club’s social media accounts and website.  

At the end of June, judges from the Garden Club and the Economic Development Commission will visit the gardens. Award ribbons will be given to the winners in each of the three categories listed above.  There will also be a community vote for “Portland’s Choice,” which will be hosted via Facebook. There will also be ballot boxes in both the Portland Library as well as the Waverly Center for people to vote if voting online is not an option. The winners will be notified and their Street Garden will be recognized on the club’s social media accounts, as well as submitted to the Rivereast News Bulletin. 

We appreciate your participation in this program to beautify Portland.  

Thank you for your entry! 

Click here to view the entry information that can be emailed to us at prv.garden.club@gmail.com.