Hamilton Downtown Association (HDA) and Hamilton Downtown Foundation are hosting a Parking Lot Party at the City Center Motel to celebrate the downtown flower basket season.
Organizers ask community members to join the HDA and foundation for a fun evening at the City Center Motel on Thursday, May 23 from 5 to 7 p.m.
The gathering is in partnership with the City Center Motel, with Meandering Moose food truck and live music with Shark Buffalo to celebrate installation of the downtown flower baskets and all the work that goes into making downtown a vibrant community center.
“A lot of work goes into our flower basket program and we wanted to celebrate,” said Robin Pruitt, HDA executive director. “The basket sponsors, volunteers, K&S, building owners and small business owners all make this possible. The community loves the flower baskets and it really shows our pride in our downtown historic district.”
“We’re thrilled by the response to the basket program,” said K&S Greenhouse owner, Gale Price. “It adds so much to the fantastic atmosphere in downtown Hamilton. Makes it feel more welcoming and cohesive. Lots of towns overlook the importance of visual improvements like this, but Hamilton has embraced it.”
Mary Casper, owner of the City Center Motel, added, “Since we have owned the City Center Motel we have seen the amazing work the Hamilton Downtown Foundation and Association does, and we are excited to be a part of that process. They provide so much for the community and really make an impact for all of the local businesses and livability for our broader community.”
HDA funds the baskets and their watering and maintenance through sponsorships, donations and contributions from the Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement District, a taxation district funded by building owners in historic downtown Hamilton.
“The community funding arm of our work, Hamilton Downtown Foundation, really makes this effort possible,” said Pruitt. “The community has really stepped up to support our small business owners in taking care of our historic downtown. The basket sponsorships not only fund the actual basket flowers but the watering and maintenance in the summer which is over $7,000. We still have about 10 baskets available for sponsorship and all donations are appreciated for the program. We hope people come out, celebrate our great small business community and Main Street, and our volunteers and donors.”