Seas the Day: Westport Marina Gets a Floral Makeover
This spring, Westport's Marina district is getting a little extra color, and the community is invited to help make it happen. City council member Wes Galvich has spearheaded a plan to refresh all 87 of the city's downtown planters, esplanade flower boxes, and containers along Float 11 with locally sourced, coastal-hardy perennial plants selected for year-round color and resilience. Rather than the traditional approach of purchasing new annual plants each year, the redesigned planters will be built to last and will save the city money for years to come.
One of the current planters at the Marina
An illustration of what the planters could look like after planting (art by Ruby)
Community Volunteers Needed!
The city needs your green thumbs to get it done. Community work days are scheduled for:
Tuesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 20, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Tasks will include removing select plants, adding soil and compost, planting new additions, and general cleanup. Snacks, kneeling pads, and garden tools will be provided, but if you have your own tools and are willing to bring them, that would be a big help. You don't need to stay the full five hours, and single-day sign-ups are welcome. Galvich is hoping for at least 30 volunteers each day to keep things moving smoothly.
"Instead of doing a traditional city planter scheme of annual plants with perfect uniform planters, I want our plantings to reflect Westport for the unique character that it has," said Galvich. "I want that personality to stay in the planters."
Existing plants placed by business owners, residents, and the Streets & Parks Department will be preserved wherever possible, with new feature and spiller plants added alongside proven fillers already thriving downtown. Soil levels will be topped up and systems put in place to reduce plant and soil loss going forward.
Seas The Day Flyer
"Some plants are simply too large or too well established to dig out," says Galvich. "We have Cordylines (they look like palm trees) along with hydrangea, rock roses shaped by the wind, and large lithodora. These will be lovingly trimmed where needed and have soil and themed plants added around them without removal."
How to Sign Up
Email Wes directly at wesgalvich@gmail.com or register online: Click here to sign up via Google Form
Pre-registration is encouraged to help organizers plan supplies, but walk-ins are always welcome.
For more detailed information about this project, please view the Planter Refresh Project Info PDF.