Private Donors to Beautify America's Cup

December 13, 2012

By Tom Shevlin

Hoping to beautify one of the city's most heavily travelled roadways, the owner of a local landscaping company has offered to install a series of decorative plantings along the median of America's Cup Avenue.

Jonathan Bourne, of Bourne Green LLC., says that he hopes to create up to 50 small gardens in between the trees located within the grass median that runs from Marlborough Street to Market Square. The flowerbeds, which would measure 3-feet by 4-feet, would be developed and maintained through the support of local businesses and private benefactors in an adopt-a-spot program overseen by the city's Public Services Department.

In a letter to councilors, Bourne said that because the garden will be sponsored plantings, he won't be able to install all 50 at first. Instead, he said, Bourne Green currently has enough sponsors to plant five of the proposed gardens.

"The five sponsors I have already gathered mentioned they would like to add either their family name and or business ,name to each of the plantings they sponsor," Bourne wrote. "I believe this attribute will encourage sponsors to donate to the beautification of Americas Cup Avenue."

Within each garden, Bourne Green plans to install four annual plantings, not to exceed three feet in height.

The proposal, which has won the support of city Tree Warden Scott Wheeler, will also require approval by the state Department of Transportation, which maintains the roadway.

Wheeler was enthusiastic in his support for the plan.

"If Mr. Bourne's project is successful, it will be a wonderful addition to the City," he said, adding, that in the event that he chooses not to extend the adopt-a-spot agreement with RIDOT in the future, it would be his responsibility to return the garden areas to grass.

Councilors were expected to accept the gift at their Wednesday, Dec. 12 meeting. Anyone interested in adopting a spot should reach out to Bourne Green, by calling or e-mailing Jonathan Bourne at (401) 662-2499, or via e-mail atbournegreenri@gmail.com.

December 13, 2012

Comments (9)

Comment Feed

stop and smell the flowers

Although I do not believe that we need blinking neon lights advertising companies that need no advertisement. If someone is proud enough in beautifying Newport, as I know Bourne Green LLC. Will do. Then I am all for it.

diane 150 days ago

Sponsorship vs. Advertising

Some people will panic over anything. It's a great idea and will do much to enhance that stretch. I'm picturing the sponsorship recognition to more closely resemble the bronze plaques that adorn the benches, or perhaps even a simple small one that appear on the artistic bike racks.

Badger 152 days ago

Boycott Them

I say boycott any business who puts up advertising signage along America's Cup Ave under the guise of "beautification".

Mikey 152 days ago

Privitization of public functions

Mr. Bourne is commended for his civic minded recommendations, but...

This is another instance of we taxpayers yielding control and responsibility to private concerns. The city/state willingly cede their responsibility to maintain and upgrade infrastructure in return for the commercial right to advertise. How long will these sponsors remain? What happens when the return fails to meet the investment and sponsors bail? Do we have empty planters, neglected plantings?

We as a community need to be willing to pony up the investment to make our town beautiful, Washington Square is a great example (although it too is starting to fall apart due to neglect and lack of maintenance). If we don't invest in ourselves, others will do it for us, without our input (Maya Lin and the one percenters).

Concerned Taxpayer 152 days ago

Signage On America's Cup

Of course local businesses are excited about having a permanent signs advertising their businesses on America's Cup Ave for a few hundred dollars a year. Lets go all out and get the likes of McDonalds and Burger King involved. I'm sure they'd go all out and spend big bucks on the beautification. Hopefully the landscaper can get a few extra dollars outta them by letting them setup blinking "Eat At McDonalds" LED signs which will of course be solar powered cause people will buy the whole "its green" thing.

Mikey 152 days ago

Yes to beautify

I understand the concern with commercializing, but I also think this is a amazing and beautiful (no pun intended) idea. I think we need to focus on what this project is doing for the community; giving us visual and environmentally friendly pleasures to further brighten one of the most popular streets in our state. I do not think Mr. Bourne and the employees of Bourne Green are throwing themselves into this project to paste more billboards or commercialization in our faces.

So please focus on what the overall mission of this project is, and the fact the benefits out weigh some of our concerns.

I fully support this project!

Kolib 154 days ago

Response to "whatever"

I understand your concern with the commercialization but my business will definitely be sponsoring a planter once the state gives the go ahead. I want my business to be attached to great karma and I think it's amazing that a community can come together for a common cause. I bet if you asked Mr. Bourne to sponsor an anonymous planting he would be more than happy to satisfy your request.

Upon the release of this article I gave Mr. Bourne a call to inquire about the sponsorship program. He was very excited and seemed to be very passionate about the cause.

I wish this project great success.

Anonymous 154 days ago

Curbs

Maybe the State will repair the deteriorating curbs at the same time. This would have been done long ago if it happened in Narragansett where the State jumps for every little problem.

Jack 155 days ago

america's cup Ave.

It's great that people want to landscape the America's Cup Ave. but it should not be another billboard for someones promotions-- the last thing we need is more comercialization -- if people want to beautify do it withjout commercial interests attached.

whatever 156 days ago