THE BRIGHT SIDE
The Business Improvement District covers the downtown area and depends on the group of businesses that reside and do business there for support.
In return, the BID highlights the businesses with great enthusiasm and creates wonderful events and beautification to encourage others to enjoy the downtown. For years the idea has been tossed around to expand the BID’s map. This would allow more businesses to enjoy the BID’s efforts and the BID would receive more support. This seems like a no-brainer and a win-win for everyone involved. The Business Improvement District is making this more than just an idea. At the last BID meeting, the agenda included the expansion. Now the expansion idea can start an official process.
The plan is to expand north to and including SuWings and then south up to Maxwell Mansion. This would increase the business improvement district by fifty-seven businesses. This means more for the BID to highlight but also means more for the BID’s bottom line. The process to make this happen is not quick and will need the support of city officials and the public. Public notices need to be placed, public hearings need to happen, and a vote for approval needs to happen. If this goes through it’s a big deal for the BID and the shop owners, the only question is why aren’t they trying to go bigger?
Walworth County Community Garden to Open May 2024.
Have you been thinking about growing your own produce? Do you want to grow your own food and flowers, but don’t have the space? Here is your chance! Community gardens provide common ground for people to grow plants, build strong communities, and provide the space needed for a garden. Some benefits of gardening include raising fresh produce and saving money, learning new gardening skills, getting exercise, and unwinding. A community garden offers people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels a chance to learn together. The Walworth County Community Garden guidelines include improving the scope of family vegetable production, consumption, and access. Expand access to fresh foods for limited-income residents. They provide educational programming for youth and adults to increase the productivity of gardens, and to enhance awareness of the nutritional benefits of fresh vegetables. Donate part of our harvest to local food pantries. The community garden also provides a venue for outdoor activity for families and individuals with the added advantage of reaping the benefits of fresh vegetables to enhance health. They create an area of demonstration gardens for hands-on community horticulture programs. They also provide garden space for people who may have limited outdoor space and establish a respectful and friendly gardening atmosphere!
The Walworth County Community Gardens are located on the south side of County Road NN, just west of Lakeland School and across the street from the Lakeland Health Care Center. There are four different plot sizes to rent: 20 ft. x 30 ft. for $40; 20 ft. x 20 ft. for $30; 10 ft. x 20 ft. for $20 and raised beds for $10. The garden plots will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis with paid registration. Water is available at the garden and plots will be slightly tilled. Weather permitting, the garden will open on Saturday, May 11th. The land for the Walworth County Community Garden is generously provided by Walworth County. For registration forms and information on the community garden, visit https://walworth.extension.wisc.edu/horticulture/community-garden/ or call the UW-Extension office at (262) 741-4963.
If you have an excess of fresh vegetables please consider donating your excess produce to local food pantries, where it will be given to families in need.
