Beautification and Maintenance Go Hand in Hand
When Energy Corridor District refreshes its seasonal landscaping at major intersections throughout the District, the impact is immediate. Fresh flowers and vibrant color beds brighten key corridors and help create a welcoming environment for residents, visitors and businesses alike.
In mid-May, crews updated 10 median tips throughout the District with colorful Zinnias, red vinca and blue salvia plantings at Eldridge Parkway and Memorial Drive, Interstate 10 at Dairy Ashford Road, I-10 at Eldridge Parkway, I-10 at Highway 6 and Park Row Drive east and west of Highway 6.
The project, supervised by Mike Jackson, public realm and special projects manager for Energy Corridor District, added more than 3,300 flowers to the area’s streetscapes. “This landscaping project is one of my favorite projects of the year,” Jackson said. “Few projects have a bigger impact on our streetscapes than updating the seasonal color beds.”
The planting beds are updated twice yearly in the spring and the fall. The District’s investment in the spring planting project included not only the flowers, but also removal of existing plant material, fresh compost, fertilizer and fungicide treatments. In all, the project used 188 flats of flowers. “With the nice spring and early summer rains we’ve been experiencing, these flowers should really look spectacular in the weeks ahead,” Jackson said.
Landscape maintenance is year-round effort
While the colorful flowers are among the most visible examples of the District’s beautification efforts, much of the work that keeps Energy Corridor looking attractive happens quietly behind the scenes.
Landscape crews working on behalf of the District are active every day of the week maintaining public spaces throughout the area. Crews mow and edge District-maintained esplanades every two weeks and apply weed-control treatments monthly. Shrubs are fertilized annually, crape myrtles are trimmed seasonally and plants damaged by freeze are cut back as needed. After storms, crews clear fallen tree limbs and debris from public areas.
Energy Corridor District also maintains 14 miles of Interstate 10 right of way between Barker Cypress and Kirkwood – 7 miles in each direction. That narrow strip of grass along the freeway is mowed weekly as part of the District’s ongoing maintenance efforts.
Maintenance teams also monitor the District’s irrigation systems and provide monthly reports to staff. Leaks are repaired quickly to help prevent excessive water use and higher utility costs. Annual backflow testing is performed on District irrigation meters, and crews routinely notify staff about damaged sidewalks, downed traffic signs and other maintenance concerns spotted in the field.
In addition, porter crews remove litter from bus stops, medians and other public spaces throughout the District. “Our crews are the eyes of the District,” Jackson said. “They’re out there every day keeping an eye on things and making sure the area is attractive.”
“Maintenance work isn’t always the most exciting or visible work we do,” Jackson said. “But it’s important. All of the landscaping and maintenance performed by Energy Corridor District is above and beyond what is provided by other area governmental entities, resulting in a more beautiful place. That contributes to an overall positive awareness of the District.”