POTTSTOWN, PA January 20, 2025 – “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., April 1960 speech, Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia
As a continuation of beautification efforts, Pottstown Area Economic Development and Hearts Of Humanity Community Development Corporation have been working together this winter on a planter project on High Street in Downtown Pottstown – to fill the planters during the colder months, January – March.
Thank you to all the volunteers that participated … Bethel Community Church of Pottstown, Stephanie Henrick Pottstown Mayor, DANA Incorporated, Family Services of Montgomery County, PA The Hill School, Hobart’s Run, Pottstown NAACP, Pottstown Rotary Club, Mosaic Community Land Trust & Pottstown Community Arts, PAED’s Clean Team, and others…Thank you to The Alley on High Street for allowing us to work from their outdoor area! Thank you Ringing Dale Farm for donating and delivering the tree branches. Thank you Lowes Home Improvement for supporting this initiative with basic gardening supplies.
The initial concept is to re-purpose evergreen tree branches from the holiday season, and use materials from the earth, such as pine cones and bamboo branches. Garden stakes in each planter include inspiring quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Every year during the Spring and into early Fall, the planters overflow with flowers, provided by federal funding through Pottstown Area Rapid Transit. During the colder months, in the absence of the flowers, the planters are sparse. In late 2023 PAED applied for and was awarded a grant from Walmart to install flowers in the Early Spring from March through May. Each planter included a small garden stake sign with inspiring messages. The signs were printed by Pottstown based business, Work House Signs. This effort was the beginning of re-imagining the planters in an on-going basis, November – March.