By Greg Halbleib
BLOOMINGTON – A Rotary International initiative to have each member plant a tree this year is leading to one club sprucing up the west entrance to Bloomington.
The Sunset Rotary Club of Bloomington-Normal begins a multi-year project Wednesday morning to plant trees along West Market Street from Wylie Drive to the east end of downtown.
Rotarian Joe Grabill explained the project will help fulfill the club’s tree-planting goal while improving the first impressions of visitors to the city.
“I didn’t find any spot that could hold a tree for each Rotarian here in this community, which would be several hundred,” Grabill said. “Because I’ve long watched Market and how it needs trees, I thought this might be a fit. I checked it out with the City of Bloomington and they were enthusiastic.”
The first phase includes planting 28 trees on the western stretch of the route as well as 40 to 50 perennials to add color. A district Rotary grant and contributions from Sunset Rotary Club members is paying for the opening phase.
Grabill explained the project is named Sunset Gateway because of the east-west configuration of the street.
“Every year at the equinoxes, the sun sets directly down Market Street,” Grabill pointed out.
Other Rotary clubs are also involved, and businesses and individuals are welcome to participate. Volunteers who want to help begin the project may report to the BP station on Market Street near I-55 & 74 and park in the empty lot next door.
Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].
