Pictured above (l. to r.) are Brad Jordan, Micala Rea, John Richey, Tina Coston and Scott Rea – a few of the individuals who help plan and carry out DAB Group projects. Photo by Shelli Poole.
The Downtown Arts & Beautification Group (DAB Group) has had a plan for months to build flower boxes, place them in front of shops in the historic downtown Benton area, and plant colorful varieties of flowers.
The Home Depot donated cedar for the boxes, and the E.A.S.T. Lab students at Benton High School were ready to build the boxes for the project. In fact they had a goal to have them on the sidewalks in time for the first “Third Thursday” event in April. There was just one problem with that – students were sent home in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, several local business owners and individuals sponsored one or more flower boxes. In exchange for a sponsorship of $100.00, you can still get an engraved metal plate installed on a flower box, with the business name or as a tribute to a loved one or charity.
The project was put on hold, as the state of Arkansas tried to decide when kids would go back to school, and then again as summer began. Finally, the DAB Group decided it had better figure out a way to get these boxes built. Scott Rea, the E.A.S.T. Lab teacher led the way, getting the wood delivered to his home and building all the flower boxes himself.
Other members of the group, Valarie Flora, Amanda Sturgell, Tina Coston, Angela McAnally and Shelli Poole, helped to organize the dirt, mulch, liners, flowers and metal plates. Then on Monday, the group of individuals pictured above began installing the flower boxes.
The money collected goes to the DAB Group, which is a non-profit made up of local citizens who have the goal of ongoing projects for downtown Benton, including repainting buildings, painting murals and more. To become a flower box sponsor, you can contact Tina Coston at 501-776-5900.
Watch for these flower boxes to begin showing up around downtown. The organization is getting the metal plates engraved soon, so you’ll be able see the great local people who are investing in community.
Visit the DAB Group to see previous and recent projects, and follow for updates at https://www.facebook.com/pg/BentonDABGroup/. There is another project that needs help, on August 9th to paint the Republican headquarters building at Market and Sevier Streets.
