BOONTON — Thanks to the hard work of Boonton Main Street, Inc. Design Team members Suzanne Guerin, Mark Hettrich, and Dave Woodhull, a beautiful new planter bed now greets visitors as they enter Boonton’s historic downtown district at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Main Street.
These dedicated volunteers spent their Thursday beautifying Boonton by giving the planter a much-needed facelift: breaking down the old planter bed’s weathered railroad ties and rebuilding its walls with a charming gray rumble stone. Passersby honked and waved with encouragement as they drove past throughout the day. Community member Jimmy Hodgins even dropped in to lend a hand for a while, which was greatly appreciated by the volunteers. Boonton DPW pitched in by placing traffic cones to keep the work zone safe and by disposing of the old materials.
Assemblyman Brian Bergen, who was visiting small business owners in the area, stopped by to give volunteers some words of encouragement. “I was so impressed with the work these volunteers were doing for their community, I wanted to stop and express my gratitude. I believe volunteerism is part of what makes a great community, and the people I met on Main Street yesterday are setting a great example.”
The planter bed has been maintained by BMS for many years. It is sponsored by Jane Conway, who originally donated its perennials and regularly mulches, weeds, and waters the bed to maintain its beautiful flowers all season long. Jane is a longtime volunteer with the organization and currently sits as the vice president of the BMS Board of Trustees.
The Highland Avenue planter is only one of a number of landscaping initiatives managed by BMS volunteers. They maintain additional planters at the Plane St parking lot entrance, Essex Ave barrels, Overlook at Grace Lord Park, War Memorial on Main Street, post office round and bench planters, and organize the donation of plants and labor to the large flower beds in front of the post office, graciously donated annually by Kohut and Sons Landscaping.
Finally, BMS provides three-season flower urns (at cost) to storefronts along Main Street. If you are interested in beautifying the historic downtown district of Boonton or would like to volunteer your time and talents in other ways, please contact Laura Wagner, BMS Executive Director, at info@boontonmainstreet.org. Share how you would like to be a part of the organization. Boonton Main Street, Inc. is a stand-alone 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to increasing awareness and foot traffic to benefit Boonton’s historic downtown district.
