StettlerLocal.com April 20, 2021 @ 11:55am
There are several exciting projects and events happening this year under the green flag of the Heartland Beautification Committee.
In recognition of Earth Day on April 22nd, this year's park clean up WEEK will begin on April 16th and will continue until April 26th. Earth Week Cleanup invites individuals and groups to sign up at the Parks office to clean an area of town. The Town of Stettler supplies garbage bags and will even pick up the gathered garbage as the week progresses. Some businesses have issued challenges to other businesses in the community.
“We didn’t ask them to. They just took it upon themselves to do it.” Grace Fix, Heartland Beautification Committee
The 16th annual Plant exchange is returning this year on the Saturday of Mother’s Day Weekend in the parking lot of the Rotary Spray park. Tables will be set up so attendees can socially distance. Interested parties are encouraged to bring perennial samplings/partials to the free event. If you are looking for plants, but have nothing to exchange, you are welcome to come.
Stettler has three Community Gardens; one near the fairgrounds, one at the south side of town along Highway 56, and one near the Stettler Auction mart. Some of the Community Gardens will have reduced space from previous years due to weed removal but there are still spaces available. Contact the parks office to rent garden space for a small fee.
The Container Contest will be returning to West Stettler Park this year as well. Individuals, businesses and groups are invited to sign up to get one of ten large planters. They will then be responsible for decorating the planters, and providing the plants and materials. Prizes are awarded, and the town does the leg work the rest of the year.
Trash-2-Treasure is a local favourite as for two days starting May 1st people are invited to keep their eyes peeled for items left out on front lawns marked “FREE”. This event keeps items out of landfills and could help others save money. Please clear away any items not picked up when the weekend is over.
The Upcycle Challenge encourages participants to take old items and repurpose them. You can send photos of your creations to stettlerbeautification@gmail.ca where they will be able to win Heart of Alberta Dollars. The deadline for submissions is June 1st.
The committee will also be working with the Town and Stettler Funeral Home to develop a memorial garden at West Stettler park. The tree grove will be a place where families can attend a tree planting ceremony in memory of loved ones they have lost. The project will be run jointly between the three groups.
In its 8th year, the Town of Stettler is now in competition with Rocky Mountain House, Wainwright, and Ponoka for the annual Walk ‘N’ Roll. This friendly competition is aimed at getting citizens to walk or bike when they don’t need to drive their vehicles. You can enter as groups, or individually at www.stettler.net.
This would also be a great way to have your say on the Beautiful Yards project. Approximately half a dozen signs will be distributed to yards that have been nominated as noteworthy sites in the community. After 2 weeks, the recipient is expected to move the sign to a yard they feel is worth recognition. The pay it forward project is expected to last until August 31.
From small competitions, to beautification projects and a large-scale swap meet, Heartland Beautification Committee hopes you'll get involved in making Stettler an inviting place to live and work, as well as help people be aware of their environmental impact.
Carson Ellis, Reporter