DOWNTOWN CLERMONT, Fla. – In Downtown Clermont, a project to beautify the landscape that has been years in the making has finally come to fruition - with a unique Florida spin on it.
On Montrose Street, all the way from West to 7th has been completely revamped with Florida native plants which is ultimately going to cost the taxpayers a lot less money than what was there previously.
It’s the first of a three-part phase.
“Prior to this were ornamental trees and ornamental plants you had to water constantly, they would die out in the freezes, they would die out in the droughts, you’d have to change them pretty regularly,” explained Deputy City Manager Dan Matthys.
Now, over 10 different species of Florida native plants are lining the street. Since they’re already acclimated to the Florida climate, they won’t need nearly as much water as the previous plants.
“Once a week in the beginning, but then once we get into the rainy season we’ll pretty much shut it off,” explained Jimmy Rogers when talking about how often the plants would need to be watered. He is the Sustainable Landscape Leader for Cherry Lake who had a part in the collaborative effort with the city, county and Clermont Main Street to get this project off the ground. Cherry Lake played an important role in implementing the landscape to Downtown Clermont.
That’s good not only for water restoration efforts but also means the cost to maintain the downtown landscape has dropped significantly.
Previously, money to pay for the upkeep came out of the general fund, which means everyone in the city was paying for it. Now, the only people who will be paying for the upkeep are downtown businesses and downtown residents.
“There was a six-figure maintenance bill that they had to pay before,” explained Patrick Bianchi. He’s the President of Clermont Main Street - the nonprofit organization that has taken on a big chunk of the price tag for the plants. “The good thing about Florida native is the water consumption is next to nothing. You only have to water them if there’s a drought.”
The cost of this phase is $81,000. That paid for the plants, trees, mulch, labor and maintenance agreement. It was largely funded by Bianchi’s organization.
The design was done by Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks.
“The attention this is going to get being the only city that we are aware of that has a Florida native landscaping project is going to draw more people to downtown,” said Parks.
Downtown Clermont officials invited News 6’s Amy Russo to come out and plant the last Florida perennial which completed phase one of the project.
“This is going to save water, it’s going to save the chemicals, it’s going to be a wonderful thing,” said City Manager Rick Van Wagner.
Community members say it’s a refresh that the downtown needed.
“I love it” said Megan Savatgy, who also pays taxes in Downtown Clermont. “I think it’s bringing great colors down here, it’s going to give us shade in downtown which we need, it’s going to create more of a family environment. Anything to reduce taxes I think is great.”
Phase two of the project will be talked about at the next city council meeting. It will cover all of 8th Street, from State Road 50 to Lake Minneola.