Mill Street Traffic Island Project

MILL STREET TRAFFIC ISLAND GETS A FACELIFT

The Salem Beautification Committee is undertaking a special project this summer.

The median strip along Mill Street that runs from the corner of Washington Street at Canal Street (Domino’s) and continues to Margin Street (John J. Walsh Insurance)is getting a much needed floral facelift and will soon be a striking and attractive space with vibrant plants and blooms.  

Mayor Driscoll stated, “This is a perfect project for the Beautification Committee. This is a much needed improvement, and I am grateful to the Committee for undertaking and funding this project.”

The Salem Beautification Committee manages the City’s Traffic Island Beautification Program and takes care of over 40 traffic islands in the city. Sandra Power, the Committee’s Traffic Island Chairperson and her volunteers maintain most of the sponsored islands throughout the city, but especially have been devoted to caring for the beautiful plantings around Riley Plaza, especially around the flagpole area.  This new Mill Hill median strip rehabilitation will put the finishing touches to the traffic islands that surround the Plaza. 

Several years ago, the Committee undertook a new traffic island project in the Mill Hill area by Riley Plaza and funded the repair of the irrigation system and planted several rose bushes on the island which they dedicated in support of Salem active-duty servicemen. In fact, this island is now being sponsored and maintained by Salem resident, Phil Blackwell, who is an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Lisa Lyons, Beautification Committee Chairperson stated, “It was great to see all the members of the Committee work together to accomplish this goal. I would also like to thank all the people who supported our annual plant sale fundraiser this spring that allowed us to have the financial resources to fund this project, and all of our traffic island sponsors that help beautify our city.”
Marc Berube, one of the newest members of the committee spearheaded this project. “Getting this island to look as beautiful as the ones surrounding it, was one of the main reasons I was interested in joining the Committee. I am really excited that this project will be brought to fruition. I would also like to thank Department of Public Services Director John Tomasz for his assistance and General Foreman Tom O’Shea for his landscaping expertise.”

The Beautification Committee considered many options for the traffic island redesign, and decided that a collection of five large urns containing an array of perennials would bring new life to the median strip along with areas of mulch and decorative stones.

After these initial improvements, the traffic island will be sponsored by Roost & Company and Marc Berube.
Work at the island began this past weekend. The Salem DPS is digging up the island and preparing it for new soil and an irrigation system. It is the goal of the Beautification Committee to have the project completed sometime in July.

If you'd like to learn more about the Beautification Committee, or if your business or organization would like to sponsor a traffic island in Salem, please contact Ellen Talkowsky at 978-619-5676 or at etalkowsky@salem.com