BEAUTIFICATION EFFORT

Lions Club joins push to improve GV medians

The street beautification group, MedianGreen, just got a new partner to help spruce up some of the Green Valley roadways, the local Lions Club.

MedianGreen founder Susanne Blodgett and Lions Club member Ben Venuti described Friday some of the ways the two groups will work together. The Lions have agreed to pay for improvement of the median on La Canada between Apero and Alegria, becoming the first civic group to make a financial commitment.

Blodgett also talked about some other things her group will undertake to convert barren and weed strewn centers of roads to welcoming desert oases.

Venuti said the civic betterment group Lions plans to put up some money from its recycling center to help with landscape improvements, possibly installing water lines or cisterns to hold the life-sustaining fluid.

Blodgett said many medians throughout the town have inefficient or faltering watering systems that can be refurbished.

Other places have no piped water, but MedianGreen is working on plans to install 300-gallon cisterns to help nurture the plants there. Arranging to have the cisterns refilled periodically is another MedianGreen project, Blodgett said.

Blodgett’s plans are ambitious. She said there are 110 medians on 14 miles of Green Valley streets that need a shot of water and caring energy to revitalize them.

There are several ways local gardeners or organizations can be fit to a project. Call her for more information, 625-1905.

MedianGreen plans a pair of public meetings this week to discuss its work and seek volunteers — 10 a.m. Monday, Green Valley Mall Suite No. 14 and at 2 p.m., Tuesday, same place.

MedianGreen officials have a Wednesday meeting locally with county officials to explain their work and seek more support.

Copper mining company Freeport McMoRan has already contributed to some median beautification. Following recent tests on two medians, the company left behind some of its equipment that can be used for beautification, said Blodgett.

Blodgett said anyone wanting to make a cash donation can mail it to 1325 West Duval Mine Rd., No. 167-10.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749