Previous Perry planters supplanted by new black beauties

Fifteen stone planters stand in regular formation along Willis Avenue in front of Fareway, and soon they each will bloom with red, white and blue petunias thanks to a private-public partnership between the grocery store and the city of Perry.

The city recently replaced its long-serving stone planters with new models as part of a beautification project in the downtown business and cultural district.

“I heard they were going to put them by the bike trail,” said Fareway Manager Travis Landgrebe, “and I thought they’d look nice in front of the store and along Willis.”

An agreement was reached. Once the city prepares the planters, Fareway will fill them with their blooming petunias.

“We’re going to donate the flowers for them,” Landgrebe said, “and the city is still going to water them. It will be a group effort. They’ll look real nice on the Fouth of July with a little more color along Willis.”

Many of the stone planters still have small dedication plaques attached to them. The new planters — 27 powder-coated black beauties — will be deployed around the cultural district along with 10 new trash cans, 10 flat benches and six benches with back rests.

A $5,000 grant from the Dallas County Foundation will help offset part of the $57,000 cost of the new amenities. At about $1,074 each, the 27 new planters make up the lion’s share of the project’s cost at about $29,000.

Prices for each of the amenities are shown in the table below.

“The new planters and the benches with backs have plaque holders,” said Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson, who spearheaded the beautification project. “We will start selling sponsorships and offering other memorial opportunities shortly.”

As part of the beautification, city crews have recently planted the downtown bumpouts that bound parking spaces at the ends of blocks. Their ornamental grasses and lilies will complement the new planters’ petunias, Peterson said. The planters have self-watering attachments.