Celebrate Great Falls (CGF) has launched its Streetscape Project in coordination with the Great Falls Garden Club. The goal is to beautify the town center by planting 14 native trees in the recently created “bump outs” on Walker Road between the Safeway entrance and Georgetown Pike.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) created “bump-outs” along both sides of Walker Road in order to make the center of town more pedestrian friendly and to slow traffic. There are now several parking spaces along both sides of the road, with nondescript grassy areas in between. In addition, nearly two dozen large, white, unattractive, PVC pipes now dot the bump-outs, to provide access to the storm water drains, if necessary.

“We are really looking forward to having beautiful trees line this section of Walker Road,” said Candace Campbell, a Streetscape Project volunteer and garden club member. “Once they get established, the spring blooms and fall color will be magnificent. They will make for a lovely view down what is one of our major streets.” Under the Celebrate Great Falls umbrella, Streetscape Project volunteers began working with VDOT, as well as the Fairfax County and Dranesville arborists, to identify five different native trees that will thrive in this environment, not interfere with drivers’ site lines or power lines, and make the town more lovely year round. In addition, the trees will:

• Provide spring blossoms and fall color

• Visually narrow this stretch of Walker Road so it looks more appealing

• Provide shade

• Add tree canopy to help replace the many white oaks lost recently

• Help meet the Fairfax County goal of increasing tree canopy

Celebrate Great Falls’ goal is to raise $20,000 to complete this project, ensure that the trees are watered for the first year so they get well established, and to cover the costs of any future maintenance required by the trees. Anyone interested in supporting this effort with a donation to Celebrate Great Falls should visit the website at www.celebrategreatfalls.org to make an online contribution, or send a check to P.O. Box 295, Great Falls, VA 22066.

Celebrate Great Falls is a 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation that serves as the umbrella organization for many of the town’s major annual events, including Concerts on the Green, Halloween Spooktacular, 4th of July Celebration, Celebration of Lights, Winter Wine Tasting and an annual charity golf tournament that supports local elementary schools.