Watch out for water hoses, make way for gumbusters, and get ready for more hanging flower baskets. DowntownDC is undergoing a seasonal transformation designed to make Downtown streets and public spaces more inviting for workers, residents, and visitors. Each year, the DowntownDC BID’s safety/hospitality and maintenance employees (SAMs) usher in summer by making several physical improvements as part of the BID’s annual Beautification Initiative. Our goal? To help create an exceptional environment in the one-square mile DowntownDC BID area and attract vendors, encourage more outdoor cafes, and facilitate activities that draw people to the area.
And come they do. More than 9.5 million people visit the DowntownDC BID area to attend 13 museums, six performing arts theaters, 138 destination restaurants, and more than 30 destination retail stores.
SAMs power wash sidewalks, plant flowers, remove gum from sidewalks, add tree boxes, and remove dead and dying trees. Also in on the action are DowntownDC BID partners—the National Park Service (NPS), the District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) Urban Forestry Administration (UFA), Casey Trees, and Downtown property managers, all of whom chip in to enhance the quality of public spaces.
The beautification effort is only one of many measures that help improve Downtown’s physical environment. The Maintenance SAMs perform many year-round cleanup activities, including aggressively picking up trash and recyclables and removing graffiti, stickers, and illegal posters. In addition, the BID stages outdoor events such as Arts on Foot and the Downtown Holiday Market, and facilitates permits for sidewalk cafes. The cafes, a byproduct of the annual beautification ritual, total well over 120 today and help animate Downtown streets. The ripple effects of sprucing up are so rewarding!