The Auburn Downtown Association (TADA), its members and board of directors again say thnak you for an amazing 2011 Clean Sweep, an extreme makeover edition.

Hundreds of volunteers worked hard in rainy conditions beautifying the heart of their city, its downtown. This effort has continued and will continue to give downtown the facelift it needs. Volunteers can come back downtown with their family and friends and show them the positive impact made at key intersections that will last for a very long time.

This effort also was hugely supported by Waste Management of Auburn, which donated funds used to purchase the soil, flowers, plants, weed killer and other needed supplies. Their volunteer team also “took on” the corner of 3rd Street Northwest and C Street Northwest, and then helped wrap up other projects that needed their manpower.

Miles Sand and Gravel, which said its heart will always be in Auburn, donated the beautiful washed rock and a lot of it. Steve Small of Don Small & Sons Oil provided his trucks, gas and personnel to haul the rock and also helped place many of the boulders. K&A Nursery donated the beauty bark and deeply discounted the 45 boulders.

We want to offer a very special thank you to Brady Costello, owner of Facility Maintenance Incorporated of Auburn, who volunteered his time meeting with us prior to the event, and working with his equipment the day of the event and since then. TADA also would like to thank AgriShop of Auburn, Rainier Nursery, Shamrock Landscaping, Windmill Gardens, Branches Nursery, Covington Creek Nursery, the City of Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation Department and the Auburn Garden Club.

Another TADA thank you to the volunteers and hundreds of participants in the inaugural and successful Auburn Art & Wine Walk supported by Auburn Valley Creative Arts, the City of Auburn, the Auburn Arts Commission, TADA and many sponsors, held the following weekend with much better weather.

Downtown Auburn is known and will continue to grow as the home of parades, events and festivals, now with the beautiful new City Hall and Park plazas. Whenever possible, support the heart of Auburn, your downtown, to keep it beating strong.

– Kathleen Keator, TADA executive director