POUGHKEEPSIE – The tree wells that surround trees along Main Street in Poughkeepsie have become an alternative to trash cans for a variety of garbage. The wells are part of a revitalization plan from Ward 2 Common Councilman Evan Menist and surround each tree along the sidewalk between Main and Market Streets.
The tree wells were installed along with benches and hanging flower pots in April and the $50,000 project was funded with American Rescue Plan funds. In addition, new trash and recycling cans were installed along the same route.
The benches were ordered removed by Mayor Marc Nelson, less than two months after being installed. The story of the removal can be found here.
Now the tree wells are being criticized by Main Street pedestrians and business owners as a place where people discard trash, despite new garbage cans being a few feet away from the wells. A Mid-Hudson Newsd reporter performed a brief survey of the wells on the south side of Main Street on December 1 and found trash, including campaign signs, discarded hair weaves, and other garbage in at least half of them. “People are slobs,” said Brenda Stallman, from Albany, who was walking to the Dutchess County Office Building for business. “How difficult is it to place your garbage in the cans that are right there,” she said, pointing to a garbage can less than 20 feet away.
Calling the benches, wells, garbage cans, and hanging pots a “modest investment” at the time, Menist said he was proud to be spending the ARP money on the beautification project. He described the improvements as ones “that will make a trip to our downtown more pleasant and appealing for residents and visitors alike.” He asserted that the investment would support small businesses in the improvement area, adding that it makes the city a “more beautiful, accessible, and walkable place to live.”
Menist also told Mid-Hudson News in the Spring that he wants to create what he calls the “Main…
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