Jackson Boulevard medians to get a planting facelift

West Jackson Boulevard's median planting areas are getting a facelift.

The Missouri Department of Transportation and the city of Jackson are teaming up to address six median planting areas, referred to as planter boxes, on West Jackson Boulevard between the traffic signals at South Oklahoma Street and East Lane/Old Toll Road, according to a Feb. 17 memo from public-works director Rodney Bollinger.

Seven more planting areas are between the traffic signal at Old Toll Road and the city limit.

In 2008, when the roadway and median were built, a citizen group had planned to take over planter maintenance, with MoDOT picking up the remainder of the work, but that plan failed to bear out, according to Bollinger's memo.

Jackson Mayor Dwain Hahs said the citizen group maintained the areas for a time.

A planter box is seen Thursday in the 700 block of West Jackson Boulevard in Jackson.Fred Lynch

"These citizens helped with caring for the boxes initially, and they still had some funds in a bank account," Hahs said.

The group essentially disbanded, Hahs said.

The funds from the former group's bank account were used to start the project, he said, but donors will be needed to fund each area's planting and maintenance.

"Our outside input will come from that," he said.

Hahs said the city of Jackson and MoDOT worked this plan out together.

Planter boxes in the median of the 1600 block of West Jackson Boulevard are seen Thursday in Jackson.Fred Lynch ~ Southeast Missourian

MoDOT suggested using the Adopt-a-Highway program to beautify the areas, which would allow individuals and organizations to donate funds for planting and upkeep, according to Bollinger's memo.

The project's first step, removal of weeds and excess greenery, already has been performed by MoDOT crews, Hahs said.

Next, the city plans to issue a call to donors. The initial requested donation would be $350, with an annual maintenance cost of $200 a year thereafter, Hahs said.

Cassi Holcomb of Cassi Bock Landscaping will plant and maintain the beds.

Holcomb said she decided to plant each of the roughly 8-by-20-foot areas with drought-resistant, hardy plants more likely to handle tough conditions.

Traffic moves Thursday past a planter box in the median of the 1600 block of West Jackson Boulevard in Jackson.Fred Lynch ~ Southeast Missourian

"I'll be planting the right plants in the right place," she said.

Holcomb said there will be four-season interest in the beds.

"It will be beautiful throughout all seasons," she said. "It's a little plant community right in (the) center of (the) median."

Holcomb said there are no evergreens in the planned beds, but there are some native plants.

"Landscaping doesn't have to be idyllic, manicured, high-maintenance formal landscape," Holcomb said. "You can have little plant communities and a lot of beauty throughout the seasons, have a good place for beneficial insects and birds."

She added, "Sometimes people just have to see it. I'm trying to show them."

Holcomb said the donors will not be responsible for any upkeep of the beds.

"I'll streamline, do things at the right time with a maintenance schedule," she said.

Holcomb said she'll be bringing water in the first year to get the plants established, and rainfall should help.

"All of these plants are survivors that love the heat. They'll help cool each other down, shade each other. That's a big reason why I'll plant around the base of the tree," she said.

Holcomb said she wants to do her best to help Jackson look as good as it can.

"I want to see Jackson in bloom," she said.

A foundation within the city will handle donations, Hahs said.

Hahs said each area will have its own sign, one on each side of the roadway, which will note the individual or organization donor. That way, he said, people traveling both ways can see the donors' names next to the planting areas they've adopted.

The signs will be MoDOT Adopt-a-Highway's trademark blue with a cluster of yellow flowers to the right and will include the legend "Area Beautification Sponsored By" and the donor's name.

If the city is unable to secure enough donors to address the first six planting areas, MoDOT has agreed to remove all vegetation from non-adopted areas and fill them in with concrete, according to Bollinger's memo.

Hahs said there already has been interest from community members who wish to adopt an area, however.

The upshot is, this will be an improvement, Hahs said.

"It will make the approach to the city better," he said. "The planter boxes got a little overgrown and weedy. This means there will be less of that growth, and it'll look better.

"After we're done, in the future, we can see what we can do with the other six or seven boxes out there."

Those interested in learning more about donating may contact Jackson City Hall at (573) 243-3568.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address: 101 Court St., Jackson, Mo.

West Jackson Boulevard and Oklahoma Street, Jackson, Mo.

West Jackson Boulevard and Old Toll Road/East Lane, Jackson, Mo.