New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Public-Private Partnership Will Work to Make “nbbeautiful”
Mayor Jon Mitchell announced today the formation of a new a public-private partnership dedicated to help make New Bedford a more livable city by coordinating initiatives aimed at public art, tree planting, litter removal, and other efforts. The group, known as nbbeautiful, consists of 13 volunteers organized by the Mayor and co-chaired by Mary Rapoza, Director of the New Bedford Parks Recreation & Beaches and downtown New Bedford gallery owner Jeremiah Hernandez. The group is an all-volunteer committee privately funded by grants and donations. It will work closely with the Mayor’s Office and other city departments.
The mission of nbbeautiful is to maintain the livability of the city by championing public art, providing consulting on horticulture and tree plantings, developing collaboration between volunteer groups, and developing informational guides for citizens and businesses. nbbeautiful will advance a variety of projects in the city by leveraging close cooperation between city departments and private groups, such as the New Bedford Garden Club and Operation Clean Sweep.
“New Bedford is blessed with beautiful public spaces. It is in everyone’s best interest to maintain and improve these spaces where the community meets. There are so many opportunities for residents to get involved, from donating street trees to weeding public gardens. If everyone does a little, then we will see citywide benefits,” said Ms. Rapoza.
nbbeautful will celebrate its first public event on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the Intersection of Route 6 and South Sixth Street where the group will accept and plant a Ginko tree donated by UMass Dartmouth professor Michelle Keith in recognition of International Peace Day. The tree will be planted at the “Octopus” intersection by UMass Dartmouth students Daniel Keith and Marvin Rhode Hyppolite. The students will also plant a Ginko tree at UMass Dartmouth in honor of the Boston Marathon Bombing victims and first responders.
For more information, see nbbeautiful on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NewBedfordBeautiful.
