Mexico possesses status as a tree city, having celebrated its 46th year as a Tree City USA member this spring. 

Mainstreet Mexico seeks to enhance that distinction by beautifying downtown Mexico with trees.

Alex Finck, a board member of Mainstreet Mexico, gave an update about the organization’s hopes and plans for tree planting during the June 23 Mexico City Council meeting.

He explained that his organization is a chapter of a national effort and is directed toward the revitalization of downtowns in cities across the country.

Finck said his group looked at other cities’ downtowns in the area and one element Mainstreet members liked was the presence of trees, and Mainstreet Mexico would like to get permission and support from the council to plant trees in downtown Mexico in existing planter wells. Finck said later in an email to the Ledger that he expects the council to vote on the measure at its July 14 meeting.

He told council this project would come at “essentially at no cost to the city and with very minimal upkeep from your all’s standpoint.” The city could help with the watering of the 92 trees over two years, with some expense incurred. Businesses face no costs.

Finck said in the email that the project is “entirely funded, in the current proposal iteration, by grants and fundraising through Mainstreet Mexico. The only cost to the city will be the cost of water and the cost of labor for watering, which is pretty minimal.” He said, though, that he didn't have an exact number on that. He said watering will need to be weekly and it could be "alternated throughout the week on different trees based on park employee availability and to minimize disruption to their workflow. But new trees need to be watered daily (in this case using water bags around the trees) every week for at least the first couple years after planting.” 

At the council meeting, trees would revitalize downtown, improve walkability and draw people downtown and make them want to stay, Finck said.

“People in cars don’t buy things - people walking do,” Finck said. “We want to get people out of cars and walking in (and) around businesses.”

He said his group recognizes challenges, such as trees that would “not mess up the sidewalks and streets,” would not attract grackles and would be fast growing. Business owners’ consideration would be looked at as well, he said, and his group would want to minimize foul-smelling fruits or fruit droppings. 

Finck shared some information with council that pitched Mainstreet’s plans, and he said his group wants to be thoughtful and thorough. In its tree proposal, Mainstreet Mexico suggested incorporating multiple tree varieties, and the proposal included information on watering, such as how the city’s parks department could water trees in downtown if the council gives its approval.

Also, Finck said Mainstreet would organize a volunteer effort to plant the trees in the planter wells, and removing bricks from planters would be a volunteer effort by Mainstreet. He said he cannot guarantee that no birds will land in the trees, but he said the trees that were chosen because they do not have branch patterns that encourage mob-like grackle behavior. He said pruning and other care would be minimal over the first several years.

In an email, Finck said his group had just gotten a grant as well to get a jump start on the project, and said he had no confirmation yet on how much, but it’s a “decent sized grant.” 

Also at the council meeting, council approved:

• A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with various organizations for recommended funding from the Mexico Tourism Tax, which was $1,500 for advertising for Paul and Theresa Ridgway for their advertising campaign for the Summit Events Bee Gees Gold Concert, to be held Sept. 13.
• A resolution declaring an imminent threat to public safety and authorizing emergency actions, limited to the demolition of Hardin Gym, located at 920 S. Jefferson St. As a requirement to secure funding through the Community Development Block Grant funds, which the city has authorized to seek, an imminent threat must be declared about the building in order to be eligible to receive those funds.
• A resolution authorizing the city manager to accept temporary construction easements for the Muldrow Phase II Sidewalk Improvement Project.