Garfield panel launches beautification process

Wayward dandelions, mossy sidewalks or peeling paint in Garfield could all be candidate projects for the new Beautification Contest offered this summer.

Hosted by the Garfield Planning Commission, contestants are asked to pick a spot within city limits that needs aesthetic help.

“This contest is to get people to look around and see if there is anything we can do to make the town look a little nicer,” said Tammy Howard, chairman of the commission.

If at least 20 entries are submitted, the first place winner will receive $50.

Howard said the planning commission last year sent a survey to all residents asking what they thought the town needed most.

“The overwhelming theme for the response we got back from the community was people really wanted to see us working on downtown revitalization of Garfield. They were also concerned about the aesthetics of our town and how it’s changing,” Howard said.

In response, the commission launched this year’s contest. Howard has advertised the contest with posters at Palouse High School, town hall and other locations around town.

The poster has pictures of overgrown sidewalks, hedges, peeling paint fences and debris in yards. Howard said she was careful to only include pictures of unidentifiable locations in Garfield.

Ideas for projects include property repairs, landscaping or painting.

Candidates are asked to take “before” and “after” photos of the scene they are cleaning. The judges, members of the planning commission, will consider all the projects after the contest deadline Sept. 20.

Judges will grade the entries based on the contrast of the “before” and “after” photos, the overall composition of the photo and the appropriateness of the appearance of the location.

“I just think it can be contagious. If one person takes care of their place, then maybe the next person will try harder and make the whole neighborhood look good,” Howard said. “That looks good for new people moving into town. It’s good for businesses thinking of opening. It’s just good for the health of the town.”

For more information on the project, visit Garfield town hall.