Somebody once said that a coat of paint helps any ol’ barn.
A “coat of paint” has gotten people peeking down the back alley in Brundidge. And, as the alley antics continue, the back alley might become a place of interest in the city.
Legs were put to the clean-up/spruce-up plans Saturday as downtown business owners and volunteers continued the efforts to make the back alley a place of pride instead of an eyesore.
Margaret Ross, a Brundidge City Council member and volunteer, said the alleyway off S.A. Graham Blvd. was discussed at the April meeting of the Brundidge Business Association.
“The city has purchased and cleared several acres behind City Hall,” Ross said.
“That area looks nice but it opened up the back alley and it was such a mess back there that something needed to be done before the BBA hosts SpringFest on May 10.”
Ross said the BBA set Saturday, April 26 as back alley clean up day.
It took a lot of picking up, pulling up and piling up before BBA President Chuck Caraway could bring in the big machinery.
“Chuck brought in a front-end loader and moved tires, bricks, trash — a ton of all kinds of junk — and piled it where it can be picked up and taken to the dump,” Ross said. “The area looks really good now and, hopefully, the store owners will help us keep it that way.”
Several stores owners participated in Saturday’s clean-up efforts. And, with a little paint, some elbow grease and a lot of imagination, Kate Taylor and Joe Bradley transform the back of Taylor Realty into an inviting back porch setting.
“I try to cooperate with any efforts to improve our city,” Taylor said. “It just took some time, some effort and a few dollars to improve the back of the building. It doesn’t take a lot to make difference. If we would all take pride in our town, what a difference it would make.”
Jamie and Leon Bullock own Brundidge Florist, which corners S.A. Graham Blvd. and they participated in Saturday’s clean-up.
Jamie Bullock said it is encouraging to see people out working to make Brundidge a more inviting place for residents and visitors.
“We certainly want to do our part,” she said. “I believe that more people are going to get involved, especially when they see what is being back in the alley.”
Ross said Brundidge has a lot of potential and all it’s going to take is for people to work together and take pride in their hometown.
“Chris Rich and Sara Dismukes got this alley project started with Flushing Meadows, a row of toilet bowl planters,” she said.
“That has generated a lot of interest and people are beginning to see how much fun it can be to be creative. If we can make an alley interesting, just think what we could do on Main Street.”