Group plants roots downtown: Downtown Monroe Association places trees on Main Street

The recently formed Downtown Monroe Association continues laying its roots in the city's core, its latest venture being the sprucing up of planter pots along Main Street.

The DMA is a community nonprofit dedicated to the betterment of downtown Monroe. Its mission is to "enhance the historic charm of downtown Monroe while encouraging diverse commerce, tourism and an increased sense of community,GÇ¥ which it seeks to do by promoting activities related to core restoration.

The group's recent effort to revitalize downtown Monroe's planter pots was spearheaded by DMA Design Committee chairwoman Samantha Idle, who was given artistic freedom after presenting her ideas to Monroe Parks Department staff. A landscape designer for Green Bank Gardens, Idle put her expertise to work in devising plant arrangements for 11 of the city's planter pots.

Idle then got busy soliciting donations, receiving 11 birch trees from the Plants Northwest nursery in Woodinville and $1,000 in plant donations from Green Bank Gardens; the total of all plant and tree donations was approximately $2,000.

The DMA worked collaboratively with Mike Farrell and Dale Olson from the parks department to coordinate the placement of the pots around Main Street, to strategically accommodate Idle's vision for lighted planter pots with greenery and tall trees of varied heights.

"The city helped facilitate that,GÇ¥ Idle said. "The parks department was fantastic, Dale and Mike both. They were great to work with.GÇ¥

After that, it was up to DMA volunteers to perform the work. The planting event took place 8-11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and included Idle, DMA board president Dianne Forth and her husband, Richard, Jackie Kiter and Dona Evans, all volunteering their time to ensure the project was successful.

The group was excited to accomplish its first tangible project.

"We had people driving by, yelling, "It looks beautiful,' GÇ¥ said Kiter, who serves as DMA board treasurer. "It was really neat.GÇ¥

Monroe Chamber of Commerce operations manager Shelley Nyhammer embraced the project and gave the group accolades during the recent Monroe Rotary Barn Dance, Forth said.-á

"She just gushed,GÇ¥ she said. "It was so great to see that kind of unbridled enthusiasm from her. I said, "Wait until you see them lit.' GÇ¥

Lighting is the next phase for downtown improvements, with DMA members seeking donations of strands of white Christmas lights to enhance the streetscape at night. Forth broached the idea after a recent evening pass through Duvall, which features white Christmas lights on all its Main Street storefronts. DMA members Lara Thomas and Andrew Martin are spearheading the lighting portion of the project.

DMA Promotions Committee chairman Ben Allen is the co-manager at the Monroe Walmart, and is working with the store to obtain donated strands of lights.

The DMA is also gearing up for its first community event, a Christmas caroling celebration taking place 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at Main and Lewis streets. The organization hopes to partner with several local choirs for the event, and all are welcome to attend.

The DMA is awaiting its official 501(C)3 nonprofit status and currently seeking additional volunteers and-á board and committee members. So far, the DMA is self-funded, each member contributing what is financially feasible for them. Tax-deductible donations to support the Downtown Monroe Association's efforts can be made at Coastal Community Bank.

Its framework set by Washington's official Main Street program, the DMA has been meeting since August. Managed by the Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, the Main Street program uses a multipronged approach to facilitate historic downtown revitalization in communities across the state.

The DMA meets at 3:30 p.m. every Tuesday in office space donated by downtown Monroe property owner Lana Stephens, at 108 E. Main St. -á -á

For more information on the DMA, visit the group's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Downtown-Monroe-Association-390385554499565/?fref=ts. For questions or more information on how to get involved, email downtownmonroeassociation@gmail.com.

There will also be a meeting-á 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Monroe Boys & Girls Club.