Keller Williams Paints the Town Red

Summer jazz concert goers and commuters will have the opportunity to take the time to smell the roses this year.

Keller Williams planted rose bushes on the lawn of the north side of the train station Thursday morning, as a part of the real estate company's national community service day. Promoting the company's signature color of red, the company's 73,000 agents nationwide participated in the Renew, Energize and Donate Day.

"It's about giving back to the community in which we serve," said Amy Tenny, Keller Williams' Westfield office team leader.

The Westfied project consisted of planting rose bushes on the north side train station lawn at the intersection of North Avenue and Elm Street. The rose bushes, which was double red knockout roses, border the wall next to the sidewalk. They replace a series of seasonal plantings that had formally graced the space.

The rose garden project came about after Keller Williams discussed the community service day with Downtown Westfield Corporation Executive Director Sherry Cronin. Cronin suggested a beautification project at the train station, noting the town's upcoming participation in the America in Bloom competition. The competition, which gave Westfield honors last year, focuses on townwide beautification projects.

Cronin said the new garden will have a long term benefit being able to save time and money from putting in new seasonal plantings.

"It will be a long term planting and beautification," she said.

The project comes on the heels of a variety of beautification projects in town. Friends of Mindowaskin have conducted park clean-ups in recent weeks, along with eighth grade students at Roosevelt Intermediate School landscaping the school's front yard. Jefferson School students have planted a new tree and soldiers at the Armory were hard at work landscaping earlier this week.

The roses were donated to the project by Keller Williams, who worked with  Williams Nursery to choose the best roses for the area. Agents from the firm's Westfield office did all of the planting. Following the work in Westfield, agents moved to Summit to help with the company's project in the Hill City.

Tenny said realtors are excited to have contributed to the beautification of the downtown area.

"They are beautifiul and it is a great area to be visible," she said.