A beautiful effort begins in Stonington

While Stonington’s Beautification Committee is still in its infancy, it’s already proven its great potential. Talk about good first impressions.

There’s no denying that first impressions do matter. There’s also no denying visitors disembarking Amtrak trains at the Mystic station now are much more apt to have a positive first impression of the region’s prime tourist destination community.

Overgrown shrubs and a trash-filled island near the station were replaced with regraded soil and mulch this month. Now, two large planters with graceful climbing hibiscus flank the flagpole near the station driveway and wooden planting boxes brimming with colorful petunias, begonias and coleus are pleasant eye candy on the station sidewalk.

This is all thanks to a collaborative effort spearheaded by Stonington’s newly formed Beautification Committee. The dedicated group of community volunteers identified its inaugural project and with the help of the town’s highway department and the businessman now leasing the Mystic station site, the group literally dug in and got the work done.

Important location

Dan Oliverio, a town highway employee who also is committee vice chairman noted the importance of the station because of the number of visitors introduced to the town there.

Chairwoman Julie Holland, who previously spearheaded impressive beautification efforts at the town’s schools, said the committee is all about fostering community pride. We certainly agree with Holland about the positive connection between pleasant surroundings and civic pride. The power of clean sidewalks and colorful plantings in public areas should not be underestimated.

Small towns throughout Europe understood this long ago. In France, for example, towns compete for the designation of “Ville Fleurie.” Villages and towns that earn the Flower City designation earn specific flower ratings. One village might be a three-flower community, while another is a four-flower. Each municipality prominently displays signs with their individual flower designation and that designation is a lure for visitors and residents alike, serving as type of official announcement that this is a pleasant place to be.

Only first step

In Stonington, the train station project is a worthy first step, but that the committee is taking a generally deliberative approach and viewing the town in a comprehensive manner also demonstrates the group is working smart. Holland said the committee is pulling together a strategic plan to identify projects across the community. This is wise approach in a town that suffers much from its split identities. This committee can go a long way to demonstrating the beautiful potential in Mystic, Stonington Borough and Pawcatuck alike.

While Stonington’s Beautification Committee is still in its infancy, it’s already proven its great potential. Talk about good first impressions. We look forward to more great work from this group.