TERRE HAUTE, (WTWO/WAWV)– Several gardening organizations around Terre Haute competed against each other to help enhance beautification efforts at Fairbanks Park on Saturday.
Riverscape hosted a “Flowering of Fairbanks” competition where groups spent time growing gardens at the park. Saturday included an awards ceremony as well as refreshments for those in attendance.
Gerri Varner, the organizer for the event, said she thinks this shows the growth that is possible in the downtown area around the river.
“It demonstrates the potential for a developed riverfront. It says, ‘we have a beautiful river, let’s make this park absolutely spectacular,'” she said. “It will bring in businesses, it will bring in people from other cities, and it’ll be something Terre Haute people say, ‘Oh, you’ve got to come see this.’'”
The Wabash Valley Master Gardener’s took home first place, while the Wabash Valley Herb Society won the people’s choice award. Varner said she was satisfied to see the community support their efforts.
“I am so grateful that they undertook this tasks. It’s not easy, these are large gardens and to get out the weeds and do all the work they’ve done,” Varner said. “I was so amazed how easy it was to get groups to do this. Terre Haute has wonderful people, and it was one of the easiest things I had done. “
Varner said they are working with Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett to find a permanent spot for the flowers, and this should be the beginning for a number of upgrades around the riverfront.
