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Decking out Dalhart


Posted by: tdt -

 Decking out Dalhart
Making the most of our hometown

 The Dalhart Beautification Committee is back on track and ready to roll! The group and its projects were temporarily stalled last November with the departure of Economic Development Corporation Director Joe Livingston, who was spearheading the efforts. 

Under the leadership of Interim EDC Director Valerie Trujillo, the committee met last Tuesday, Jan. 21, to regroup, review and reposition for action. 

“The EDC board met and wanted to re-open the doors (of the committee) to the public,” Trujillo said. “They want to open their arms to new members.” She estimated that 25 people were present at Tuesday’s meeting, including key City of Dalhart staffers and members of the Keep Dalhart Beautiful Committee, which is a separate entity. 

The Dalhart Beautification Committee partners with the City of Dalhart, Dalhart EDC and the Dalhart Area Chamber of Commerce to plan, implement and oversee projects aimed at improving the visual appeal and quality of our community. This is done by enhancing public spaces through landscaping, cleanliness initiatives and decorative elements, with the ultimate aim to increase community pride and quality of life. The committee is currently focusing on three projects: the Highway 54 entryway to downtown, the Scenic Texas Tree Grant, and interactive murals. Subcommittees are being formed for each project to help attain their goals. 

During last week’s meeting, committee member Christina Caraway reviewed the Highway 54 entry to downtown, including previous research and discussion. The area, which is located across from Gebo’s, is rich in railroad history, which the committee would like to preserve. City of Dalhart Public Works Director Gilbert Ramirez spoke about the difficulty of getting water to the area should plans include greenery, which led to the conclusion that xeriscaping and hardscaping would be the best landscaping options. Caraway will lead a subcommittee of her own choosing; they are waiting for additional information from the Texas Department of Transportation and the BSNF/Pacific Railroad. 

Just Prior to Livingston’s departure, he had received word that Dalhart was bestowed with the Panhandle’s first Scenic City Award, including a grant that gave the city 1,000 trees, which were to be delivered in April. After further discussion, the committee decided to request that the trees be delivered in October instead because a number of them will be planted around the new Intermediate School, which will not be completed until the fall. Also, tree planted in October have a higher chance of surviving and flourishing than those planted in April, and city staff feel that fall months are slower and would give them more manpower to disperse the trees. A meeting of the tree subcommittee will be held tomorrow, Thursday, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. 

Grant funds are available for interactive murals, which can bring several benefits to a community. These include increasing community engagement, fostering a sense of ownership, promoting creativity, enhancing public spaces, sparking conversation about important issues, boosting local tourism and providing a unique learning experience for people of all ages by allowing them to actively interact with the artwork and contribute to the narrative. The Dalhart Beautification Committee will price-match up to six murals for up to $6,000 each. 

The Dalhart Beautification Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at City Hall. The next meeting will be Feb. 18 and all are invited to join. 

 

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