January 13, 2006 

Artesia News

Vines Shield Against Graffiti


A clear morning sky met Artesia residents and city staff who gathered to plant vines at the corner of Gridley and 177th on Jan. 7.

Altogether 55 vines were planted, which will grow to cover the walls along Gridley Road, where graffiti is a common occurrence except in areas where vines have been planted years ago. Vines act as a deterrent to graffiti by blocking access to walls that would otherwise be like giant easels for potential taggers. This program, known as the Adopt-A-Wall Vine Planting Program, is the result of joint cooperation between the Public Safety and Beautification & Maintenance Commissions.

Altogether, $5700 was donated last year to support the Adopt-A-Wall program. The largest contributors were Ted and Anna Knevelbaard with $2500, and Andy Hsu with $500. Katheryn Pantoja, Michelle Diaz, and Karen Speers also donated money, the latter two were also present at the vine planting.

Prior to planting, Public Safety Commissioner Adrian Mulder drilled holes in the ground where the vines were to be planted.

Artesia goes by the “broken window theory” when it comes to graffiti. “If we just leave the graffiti there, we’re sending a message that we don’t care,” said Commissioner Karen Speers while planting a vine.

For more information on the Vine Planting program, please call Andrew Perry at Artesia City Hall: (562) 865-6262.
Mayor Nelson walks a bag of mulch over to the next hole.
The mayor plants yet another vine.
Councilmember John Martins drops mulch into the hole as Mayor Larry R. Nelson looks on.
Ed Leon, Public Works Supervisor, Mayor Larry R. Nelson, Deputy City Manager Justine Menzel, Beautification & Maintenance Commissioner Karen Speers, and volunteer Michelle Diaz.
Cones to block traffic and bags of mulch used for the vine planting process.
Just put the mulch into the hole, put vine in, and cover.

 

 

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