Cape unveils I-55 landscaping

Cape Girardeau officials and business leaders Tuesday morning unveiled what they hope is a first of many -- a newly landscaped entrance to the city along Interstate 55.

"This is all about representing the community we live in," said Mayor Jay Knudtson, speaking at a small ceremony in the parking lot of Drury Lodge, which overlooked the work.

"The goal now is to get community partners and do some more of these quadrants," he said.

The southbound exit ramp near mile marker 96 has been landscaped and a flower bed has been laid around a new "Welcome to Cape Girardeau" sign. At the close of the ceremony, the sign was unveiled to applause.

The cost of the project was $76,080, done by Foeste Nursery in November. City hall had originally hoped the cost would be between $30,000 and $40,000. The work also included underground irrigation and the sign. The automated system will water the decoratively mowed "sawed" grass, boxwood bushes and roses.

Maintenance of the site will cost the city about $5,000 a year, Knudtson said. Paul Klaus, local landscape architect, said it would take a full season for the flowers to "kick in and get going."

The project was a partnership with the new Sears Grand, which contributed $10,000 toward the landscaping work.

Knudtson said that he knew a project like this was needed, especially in a highly visible part of the city, when an area businessman told him the city's interchanges "looked terrible. And he was right."

Knudtson also credited the Missouri Department of Transportation, which originally had maintained the property.

Councilman Matt Hopkins, who also pushed for this project, said an attractive entrance could help lure people to pull in off the highway and shop.

"My goal is to get all of Cape's interchanges done in some way," Hopkins said.

Knudtson agreed with Hopkins' sentiments.

"We're not done," Knudtson said. "This project set the bar, and we want to raise the bar."

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137