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Planting around the Roundabout

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Contributed by: Norma Higgs on 9/9/2007

Niagara Falls has a new "roundabout" at First Street and Rainbow Boulevard. The NYS Department of Transportation completed a major roadwork renovation project in downtown Niagara Falls and included a "roundabout" to move traffic at this busy intersection.

For those of you who do not know what a "roundabout" is, according to Wikipedia on the Internet "A roundabout or rotary is a type of road junction (or traffic calming device) at which traffic enters a stream around a central island after first yielding (giving way) to the circulating traffic. In the United States it is technically called a " modern roundabout", to emphasize the distinction from the older, larger type of traffic circle (though some Americans still refer to modern roundabouts as "Traffic Circles".... In many parts of the English Midlands roundabouts are commonly referred to as "islands". Overall, roundabouts are statistically safer than both traffic circles and traditional intersections.

I have encountered many of these in my travels in Europe and will never forget the rather large roundabout in the center of Dublin town in Ireland a couple of years ago. We were trying to find our way to the dockside to get the ferry back to Wales and entered this roundabout and could not decide which exit to take so we kept going around and around as traffic was very intense. I was also stuck in the innr circle lane and after a few spins I spotted a police car sitting at the edge for some traffic mishap and stopped behind him which caused great consternation as I was soon surrounded and told to keep moving. I pleaded for help in directions and resumed the journey. I think the phase "going around in circles" was coined after one of these roundabouts. Our roundabout has only 4 "spokes" or exit roads so it is not too complicated but frankly there are too many signs posted all around it.

But that is not what I want to write about. The Niagara Beautification Commission decided the landscaping provided by the NYS DOT was just not enough and so our Chair, Marge Gillies "rounded up" some volunteers to add some color. Andy , one of our members created the design and chose the plants purchased by NBC from a local nursery. On a sunny Saturday , eight of us began our work around 9:00 a.m. after donning traffic vests loaned by the Niagara Falls Police Department .

The roundabout is tiered with three levels to landscape and the DOT left it with a few shrubs and everygreen types and a Christmas tree in the center. This looks like a project for our Holiday Decorating crew to tackle later this year. I forsee a story about a "tree lighting ceremony" in the future.

If you look at the photos you will see that we pulled out all ot the weeds (some looked like shrubs themselves), dug holes and planted 72 mums to add some color. This took the better part of the morning so it was decided to leave the bulb planting for another day.

Thanks to the crew for their hard work and the cooperation of the City of Niagara Falls Parks Department and Police Department. The rain all day Sunday will help these mums settle in and soon they will be adding lots of color to this highly visible spot.

The Niagara Beautification Commission takes great pride in projects of this type and anyone interested in helping plant the 500 bulbs on September 29th from 9 - noon can call 285-5030 to sign up. Or just come on down, bring gloves and a trowel or bulb planting tool and dress for the weather. It is great fun to be able to make a difference in our city.

And don't forget to make a reservation for our annual September Awards Luncheon on Thursday, September 20th from 11:30 to 1:30 at the Days Inn at the Falls (443 Main Street). Please call the above number or mail in your reservation as soon as possible so we may prepare for you. The cost is $16 and should be sent with your reservation.