Spruce Up Spruce!
Spruce Up Spruce is a project started and organized by Spruce Grove's Mayor, Stuart Houston. I first learned of it during the planning stages for La Tour De Spruce when we met for the pre-Tour route ride. In case you happen to be around Spruce Grove, This is what Mayor Houston looks like:
Yup, he is usually smiling and out doing something interesting for Spruce Grove. So, Spruce Up Spruce... This project includes painting the street facing fences around Spruce Grove. When Stuart first mentioned the project back in May, they volunteer painters were painting their way West on Grove Drive. The next time you head down Grove Drive, have a look at the fences. You'll note that they are freshly painted. Now, what many people aren't aware of, is that the fence painting - including the street facing side - is actually the home owners' responsibility. When a new building project takes place, the builder puts on the initial coat of paint but the home owner who buys the house is then responsible for the upkeep of the paint job on BOTH sides of the fence.
So why is the Mayor of Spruce Grove out painting fences? Well, first to bring awareness to the need to keep up with the fence painting but more importantly, to build a community. He doesn't simply send out a letter and say "Hey, You, homeowner, you need to paint your fence". Instead, he let's you know that you are responsible for painting your fence AND if you need a hand, there are both paint and willing painters to help you out (disclaimer - I've never seen any of the letters that go out but have heard they offer painting assistance & paint).
I've always enjoyed volunteering especially when you can see your work in action or the results of that work. Don't get me wrong, charities need money but it is such a rewarding feeling to do something and see the results. I was hooked and started making plans to join the crew (by "crew" I mean the volunteers who show up to paint - not a set group of people but whoever is available at the time). With my training schedule from May to August, I'm almost embarrassed to admit that it took me all the way to August 17th to finally get out to paint but I did get out and here is what happened that day:
The fence featured in this tale is on the south side of Longview Drive, between Linkside Court & Calahoo - in case you want to drive by and admire it. :D Above is the before picture - quite weathered and ready for paint. A crew of 10 (including home owners who live on the other side of the fence) was on hand and 16 sections of fence awaited our brushes. Note: there are official colors, you can check Home Hardware to find out what they are.
Several of us started with the light grey of main fence:
While others came behind us with the blue:
The entire project took about 2-3 hours - several gallons of paint (2 coats of each color) & Tim's coffee (thank you to the volunteer who brought the java) - and many hellos from curious passer-bys who stopped to check out what was going on.
At the end of the day we left behind a "new" fence, thankful homeowners (one in particular was ill and unable to paint the fence themselves but joined us with the loan of his weed whacker and in conversation), and a few more Spruce Grovers who know that they don't live in a city but in a community.
I can't wait for next year's Spruce Up Spruce weekends - stay tuned, I'll post the dates here so you can join us too! For now, some pics of the day:
