June 9, 2010
Millions of drivers and passengers have asked themselves something on the road when they see something they don't like: "Why doesn't somebody do something about that?"
It's a very common question that doesn't normally lead to action but residents in Green Valley decided to get their hands dirty and not wait for someone else to make some changes.
They were upset about the deteriorating condition of the community's more than 100 medians. “Here in GV we are not incorporated, we’re just part of Pima County and there has never been a budget to replant and beautify the medians as they get old, as drought and neglect take their toll. So for the past 40 years the medians that at one time were well-planted by the developers ended up looking like a barren wasteland and when I got tired of seeing what I saw, I thought, maybe there are others who are concerned about that, " says Susan Blodgett.
Photo: azpm
Green Valley median green
So Blodgett contacted got the word out a few years ago and soon there were others who decided to help. It lead the establishment of MedianGreen, a non-profit organization that now has more than 100 volunteers who raise money from donations, sponsors and grants to provide the plants and other necessities to improve the medians. Even the fire department gets involved, by filling up water tanks where there are no utilities to water the plants.
MedianGreen worked with county officials, including manager Chuck Huckelberry and Supervisor Ray Carroll, to iron out the details that would allow all the residents to get their hands dirty on the medians.
“We obey the rules, we work together. There’s Pima County oversight in the design and the planting and it’s worked out beautifully. And of course it’s not the kind of program that is in any way controversial so Green Valley is 100% behind this program,” says Blodgett, the chair of MedianGreen. " The seed money for MedianGreen came from the Green Valley Coordinating Council for $25,000 and a matching grant from the community and thus we were off and running for our first year. "
Jack Sharrock had also been thinking about the state of the medians when he read an article about Blodgett's efforts. He joined the group and now handles publicity for the organization. " I get a lot of satisfaction because I like, if you would see my yard down the street here, I have an acre and my wife and I have never met a plant we didn’t like and so we have our place landscaped as much as we can afford to and I want the community to look the same way. “
MedianGreen has finished a few of the beautification projects but they have plenty of additional parcels to tackle since Green Valley has about 110 medians. Their effort will continue for years but members say the most difficult part is behind them: Getting started. " Taking control of the beauty of your own community is possible, yes you can. No the county can’t do it, the budget does not accommodate that," says Blodgett.
“If other communities want their communities to look better they can do something about it. We’ve shown the way, happy to share the information with others. “
Action, as the saying goes, speaks louder than words.
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