Beautification Commission

Welcome to the Elk Rapids Beautification Commission

The Elk Rapids Beautification Commission recommends a budget and policies to the Village Council for the funding and operation of the a beautification program throughout the Village. The Commission promotes activities that will benefit and promote this program by encouraging participation by clubs, societies and other community groups.

The Beautification Commission meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Government Center (315 Bridge St., Elk Rapids, MI 49629).

INTRODUCING: ADOPT A GARDEN!

The Beautification Commission is looking for volunteers to help maintain the beauty of our community.

Businesses, organizations, families, groups, and individuals are invited to help maintain a Village Garden during the growing months of 2022. Each garden will come with a designated contact person who will mentor the team or individual volunteer and help with goals that will include ensuring that the watering system is working adequately, identifying and pulling weeds on a regular basis.

The individual or group will select the garden that they are interested in maintaining and will let the Beautification Commission know by emailing sperry@elkrapids.org. Commission members will reach out those who signed up and lead them through an orientation process. All materials, such as plants, mulch, fertilizers, trash and compost bags, will be provided throughout the season.

There are 11 gardens the Commission is asking for assistance to keep weeded, trash free, and flowers deadheaded. They include the tennis courts area, book box garden, Traverse Street Garden, Kids Pond, Boardwalk Garden and more. Roughly 15 volunteers are needed to maintain these areas April through October 2022. Check out these gardens below!

TENNIS COURTS

  • Memorial Park Tennis Courts along fence line.
  • Marigolds.
  • Weed and deadhead as needed.
  • Help plant in the Spring.
  • 1 volunteer needed.

BUMPOUTS

  • 4 small gardens along parking on Beach and River Streets.
  • Catnip, grasses, and daylilies.
  • Weeding and some trimming.
  • 1 to 4 volunteers needed.

BOOK BOX GARDEN

  • River Street next to the Library Bridge.
  • Tree, black-eyed susans, butterfly weed.
  • Weeding, deadheading, and trim down in fall.
  • 1 volunteer needed.

RIVER FENCE GARDEN

  • By the river path by the Library Bridge.
  • Marigolds.
  • Weed and deadhead as needed.
  • Help plant in the Spring.
  • 1 volunteer needed.

CHLORINATION BUILDING

  • River Street across from Hertha Town Hall.
  • Trees, Russian Sage, spirea, and juniper.
  • Weeding and trimming.
  • 1 volunteer needed.

TRAVERSE STREET PARKING

  • Parking area directly behind the theater.
  • Daisies, grasses, boxwood, and shrubs.
  • Clean out, weed, and trim down in fall.
  • 1 to 2 volunteers needed.

TRIANGLE GARDEN

  • Directly behind walk thru to parking area.
  • Little lime hydrangeas.
  • Weeding and plant annuals.
  • ADOPTED FOR THE 2022 SEASON!

KIDS POND GARDEN

  • Harbor Drive and Cedar, two matching garden areas.
  • Butterfly bushes.
  • Weeding.
  • 1 volunteer needed.

CURVY GARDEN

  • Harbor Drive boardwalk.
  • Multiple plantings, weeding.
  • ADOPTED FOR THE 2022 SEASON!

BOX GARDEN

  • End of boardwalk on Harbor Drive.
  • Hostas and spirea.
  • Weeding and trimming.
  • 1 volunteer needed.

BOARDWALK GARDEN

  • On Elk River across from floating docks.
  • Indigo plants and birch trees.
  • Weeding near plants and along pathway.
  • 1 volunteer needed.

We hope you will take this opportunity to give back to the Village by helping us keep our gardens beautiful! You will have the full support of the Beautification Commission members who will advise as needed. Thanks!

Commission Members

Sonja Perry – Chair │ TERM ENDING 2024
email: sperry@elkrapids.org

 

Susan Green │ TERM ENDING 2025
email: sgreen@elkrapids.org

 

Susan Harvey │ TERM ENDING 2024
email: sharvey@elkrapids.org

 

Jean Hatch │ TERM ENDING 2023
email: jhatch@elkrapids.org

 

Robyn Shank │ TERM ENDING 2023
email: rshank@elkrapids.org 

 

Paula Jorge │ TERM ENDING  2024
email: pjorge@elkrapids.org

 

CATHY BRUBAKER │TERM ENDING 2025
email: cbrubaker@elkrapids.org

 

Laura Shumate
Council Representative
email: lshumate@elkrapids.org

 

WANT TO VOLUNTEER ON THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION?

The Village of Elk Rapids is always seeking dedicated individuals to volunteer on boards and commissions. If you are interested in such a position, fill out an application form and either turn it in to the Village Government Center or email it to vllgclerk@elkrapids.org. Your application will be kept on file for one year. Vacant seats on the commissions and boards are usually filled in the month of April.

COMMISSION APPLICATION FORM (PDF)

For information on time commitments, requirements, and other general information about this commission, please read through the bylaws:

BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION BYLAWS (PDF)