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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Fairfield Beautification Commission hopes to spruce up downtown alley, roundabout
FAIRFIELD – The Fairfield Beautification Commission has its sights set on sprucing up a couple of highly trafficked spots in Fairfield: a downtown alley and the new roundabout on the south side of town.
DOWNTOWN ALLEY
Commission member Deborah Williamson said the group has raised enough money to build a decorative metal arch in the alley north of Central Park. She said a metal arch in downtown Albia was the inspiration.
“We like the idea of a beautiful metal arch to act as a welcoming sign into this beautiful alley,” Williamson said.
The commission plans to hire Fairfield sculptor Frank Cicela to build the arch. A three-story building on the north side of the square and adjacent to the alley is being remodeled and turned into apartments. Williamson said they’ll need to wait for that construction to end because the developer is using heavy machinery in the alley. Once the developer is done, the sculptor can get to work on the arch, probably next summer.
Williamson said that, after the arch is built, the alley should still be accessible to vehicles from the north.
In addition to the new arch, the commission plans to hang patio lights and install a series of 12 mosaics courtesy of Fairfield artist Karla Christensen. The commission plans to relocate nine concrete flowerpots from Burlington Avenue to that alley.
“These 12 mosaics all have a flower theme,” Williamson said, “so we’re really leaning into flowers in the alley.”
Williamson said the commission has even more plans in store for this alley after the metal arch, patio lights and mosaics.
“There are some dumpsters there, and we’re going to enclose them in fencing with oversized flower murals painted on them,” she said. “It’ll go from so ugly to just stunning.”
ROUNDABOUT
The Iowa Department of Transportation awards grants to beautify roundabouts on state roads, and Fairfield’s roundabout qualifies since it’s on state Highway 1. Williamson said the commission plans to apply for a grant to partially pay for flowers and shrubs in the middle of the roundabout.
“Tiffin went through the same application for their roundabout, so I have the Tiffin design to see what they were able to get out of that,” Williamson said. “I called Tiffin to get permission to copy their design, and they were very happy to accommodate. We tweaked theirs a little bit by using more saturated colors. It’s 100 percent perennials and shrubs, which are low maintenance and will take a few years to fill in.”
Williamson said Fairfield’s roundabout would feature catmint and day lilies that measure 18-20 inches high, and ornamental grasses that grow to 3 feet. She said they should not interfere with motorists’ line of sight to oncoming traffic.
If Fairfield receives the DOT grant, the commission will still have to raise about $9,000 for the limestone outcropping, since the grant doesn’t cover that. That grant would cover 30 days of watering to get the new plants established.
“I have to warn people because for the first year, the plants will look very small, but by next spring, they will look pretty spectacular,” Williamson said.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
