Unsightly corner gets makeover by police, others to make it more welcoming
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Led by two Coatesville police officers, a volunteer team transformed the corner of Maple and First Avenues so that it would live up to its “welcome” sign.
Rock- and weed-infested, the unsightly corner at Maple and First Avenues appeared to contradict the “Welcome to Coatesville” sign it contained.
That kind of mixed message rankled Police Chief Jack Laufer, an avowed proponent of the “broken windows” theory of policing. Studies of the concept have shown that vandalism is more likely to occur in trash-strewn areas and beget more crime while reducing unattractive vistas can engender a contagious, preventative response.
Laufer said he expressed his disdain for the site to a couple key members of the department, and while he was away over a recent weekend, a transformation occurred.
“When the chief mentions something like that … You just want to get it done,” said Lt. James Audette. “He commands that kind of respect.”
A “before” photo shows the ugly corner that Coatesville Police Chief Jack Laufer found in need of a makeover.
Fortunately for the chief, Audette and Sgt. Rodger Ollis brought more than just their policing skills to the initiative. Both acknowledge that they sometimes watch DIY television. “You need to watch other people make their mistakes so you can avoid them when you’re doing your own projects,” Audette explained.
Armed with that knowledge, the police officers learned that they had another powerful weapon: Others shared the chief’s belief that what should be a welcoming corner constituted an eyesore. As a result, they were happy to assist.
Ollis contacted the property owner, Arcelor Mittal, and they agreed to let the officers redo the site, Audette said. The Graystone Society and the Brandywine Health Foundation donated money for plants, and the city’s Public Works Department brought in topsoil, mulch, and a backhoe for the heavy lifting, Audette said.
Contrary to Laufer’s suspicions, Audette said they didn’t deliberately plan to do the work while the chief was out of town. Things just fell into place quickly, and they wanted the site improved before the Chesco Grand Prix bike race since the course included a turn at the targeted intersection, Audette said.
“I think they secretly planned it that way,” insisted Laufer, who applauded the results nonetheless.
Audette said the detail took two days. The first day was spent removing rocks and weeds, and the second day involved planting and mulching, none of which could have occurred without a stellar crew, he said. The volunteers included Audette’s wife, Erin; Ollis’s wife, Michele, and their daughters, Keira, 5, and Madison, 9; and city resident Charles Hicks, described as a frequent community-service donor.
With the exception of some hot-pink Wave petunias for a splash of color, most of the plantings are perennials that should fill in the space over time, Audette said. But Ollis thought the site needed something extra to accentuate the Bartlett pear tree, blue spruces, and flowers, and so he contacted Bulldog Construction, which graciously dropped off a couple of accent boulders from a nearby construction site, Audette said.
“I think it looks great, and we all felt great about doing it,” said Audette. “We’re hoping the rest of the city catches the bug.”
