Grassroots project to revitalize Ottawa neighborhoods

Julie Beyer believes it's everyone’s “earthly responsibility” to take care of their surroundings – an idea that has become the key component of her “Project Build our Block” (Project B.O.B.) volunteer program in Ottawa.

Beyer and Melinda Vesely suited up in Project B.O.B. shirts and gardening gloves to weed out the front portion of Vesely’s Empowering Minds Counseling, 634 W. Main St., on Wednesday.

The pair worked together to clean up any eyesores on the pilot block for the program, which recently received the “Most Impressive New Project or Program” special award from the national America in Bloom program. Together they worked to spruce up the sidewalk both through removing litter and taking care of the plants.

Vesely plans to also paint her sign, spruce up a nearby bench and possibly paint a mural on her fence.

“Now that I have Julie and her support, I can do some of the stuff I had on the back burner now that I have a little help,” Vesely said.

Beyer said the initiative was started as a way to spruce up portions of Ottawa without relying on city crews.

“It’s grassroots, bringing people together to maintain what has been given to us,” Beyer said. “Not everyone has been given a canvas. We have a canvas but now we must maintain it because it takes a lot of labor to water all of these trees and plants.”

Beyer said the city is willing to provide resources such as hoses and other tools if needed in the future.

Vesely is one of the first volunteers to participate. Her business is located in the pilot block for the program, which consists of the south side of West Main Street and the north side of Webster Street from Clay to Fillmore streets.

While Beyer’s specific attention is paid to that block, she said other volunteers are welcome to reach out and start up similar programs in their neighborhoods or "adopt" blocks that are for commercial use.

Beyer said part of the project involves reaching out to neighbors for help in both cleaning up the grounds as well as getting to know each other should a neighbor need a place to stay during a possible tornado or just to borrow a weed whacker.

Vesely said she jumped at the opportunity as her block sees a large amount of traffic of people going to Naplate or Buffalo Rock State Park.

She said while it’s up to the city to help spark beautification efforts, it’s also up to the public to help maintain them.

“The city has enough to do and they need to keep doing what they’re doing and as a part of that, we have to do our part because what we do as citizens benefits the city and benefits local business,” Vesely said.

Beyer said the program is in its infancy but has already seen support from residents and businesses alike.

She is thankful for any amount of time that is given to the neighborhood.

“Short on time? Doesn’t matter. We’ll take an hour of your time. Go pull some weeds. If it’s an hour or 30 minutes or 15, we’re super grateful,” Beyer said.

She hopes to continue to see growth to other neighborhoods and is excited to see what other volunteers have planned for their blocks.

“When people improve something, if you notice, people (nearby) start doing things too,” Beyer said. “Sort of like a chain reaction, it grows.”

For more information, call Beyer at 815-993-1899.