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Downtown flower pots to receive makeover
downtown flower pots
Downtown Turlock’s flower pots will receive their own spring makeover as the City Council approved changing their color to a stained rusty brown (KRISTINA HACKER/The Journal).

The 40 planter pots that line the streets of downtown Turlock will receive a long-awaited upgrade after the Turlock City Council voted to approve a proposal from the Downtown Property Owners Association to change the color of the pots.

Twice a year, the Turlock Garden Club members volunteer their time and talents to replant the pots in the downtown core with seasonal floral and plant varieties.  This is done in partnership with the Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association. To enhance their efforts, they have asked the TDPOA to consider changing the color of the planter pots from the gray concrete they are now to have all of the pots stained in a rusty brown color that they say would complement the plantings and provide an updated look to the downtown area. 

The downtown association put the request before the City Council.

“The Turlock Downtown Property Owners unanimously support it…It will really make those flowers pop,” said Lori Smith, representing the Turlock Downtown Property Owners’ Association.

“It’s a win-win situation for the City of Turlock, the downtown association and for the garden club; we love it,” said Carol McRoberts with the garden club.

According to City staff, the color requested for the pots is within the Downtown Design Guidelines but it was brought before the Council because there was extensive public involvement in the design of the downtown and staff wanted an opportunity for public input.

All of the comments made during the Council meeting were in support of the color change.

As outlined in the maintenance agreement between the City and the downtown association, the maintenance of the pots is the responsibility of the association and they will pay for the color change.

“I want to take an opportunity to thank you for all the work you do to make sure that our beautiful downtown is the beautiful downtown that we all enjoy. If I didn’t, I think I would also get into a little trouble with my own grandmother, Marie Babbitt, a part of the garden club, a vivacious 90-year-old woman who is still leading the charge. I hope to embody that life and that heart for community service that you all employ,” said Council member Nicole Larson.