OUR TOWN
City, volunteers ready to make roadsides blossom
MAYOR PHILLIP SPENRATH

El Campo is definitely becoming known as a "City on the Move." Annexation, municipal renovations, emergency vehicle upgrades and the continued improvement of streets and drainage are among an extensive list of enrichment projects that your City Council and staff have been setting in motion over that past few months.

As we approach the mid-autumn season, the time is right to launch one of our Gateway Beautification Projects that I have previously mentioned in past articles.

A team consisting of representatives from your City Council, City Staff, the El Campo Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, the Wharton County Agricultural Extension Agency, TxDOT, Greenleaf Nursery, Rioux Farm Equipment, Shoppa's Farm Supply, LCRA and many innovative citizens has been researching the feasibility and potential productivity of growing wildflowers along the U.S. 59 bypass near our main Gateways into El Campo.

It is imperative that we improve our outlying areas in hopes of attracting the attention and enticing the curiosity of the thousands of daily travelers who pass by our great city of El Campo each day.

It is important to note that a similar beautification project was attempted by local citizens approximately 20 years ago.

From what I understand, a lack of adequate rainfall and poorly timed mowing cycles dashed any hopes of realizing significant wildflowers growth. Through re-evaluations of this past project, our team hopes to avoid similar setbacks by sharing ownership of this project with TxDOT and the Wharton County Extension Office.

In addition, we have sought the sound advice of "growing" experts from both the Wildseed Farm and Greenleaf Nursery. Through these aforementioned entities, we can secure timely mowing and proper seed preparation and planting.

Rioux Farm Equipment, Shoppa's Farm Supply, members of our city staff, and community friends are lining up the equipment and coordinating the manpower needed to implement our project.

In addition, TxDOT has donated 25 pounds of Bluebonnet seeds to our beautification project. These seeds will blanket an area approximately 60,000 square feet. We hope to plant additional varieties of native wildflowers like Indian Blankets and Texas Paintbrush. This variety will highlight our bypass with a multitude of colors; it will also offer more growth assurance lest one of the planted varieties fails to produce during the initial growing season.

Entrances to our city are crucial in the economic development of both our community and our ability to attract more tourism dollars. I am calling on all of my fellow citizens to share in the stewardship and beautification of our city.

Through the Chamber, we are currently seeking financial support to help to acquire additional seeds to cover a larger portion of our gateways.

At present, we have enough seeds to plant a limited area along the U.S. 59 and Hwy. 71 intersection. If possible, we would like to branch out for several miles in both directions along U.S. 59. Our ultimate goal would be to cover the entire U.S. 59 bypass and continue along Hwy. 71 with the gorgeous wildflower theme throughout.

How many times have you driven the Hill Country roads and seen multiple cars pulled over with families emerged in the deep blue, rich red and bright yellow wildflowers, taking pictures of their loved ones?

My hope is vacationers and weekend voyagers will head toward El Campo for a look at the alluring landscape and then linger in our great city for shopping, dining, a movie, a swim or a game of bowling. Wow! It will be a pleasant surprise when they discover that our inner city is as inviting and enticing as our outlying areas?

If you would like to offer support for our Gateway Beautification Project please contact the El Camp Chamber of Commerce at (979) 543-2713 or email me askthemayor@sbcglobal.net.

As your Mayor, my primary objective continues to be preparing El Campo for the future while maintaining our community's friendly small-town atmosphere. Thank you for your support in keeping El Campo Beautiful and Growing.