Keep Jackson Beautiful Awarded "Greatest Green Grant" to Transform City Medians into Native Pollinator Habitats
Jackson, Tenn. – Keep Jackson Beautiful (KJB) has been awarded a $2,000 "Greatest Green Grant" to launch the Median Pollinator Plant Project. Distributed by Keep America Beautiful in partnership with Scotts Miracle-Gro, this competitive grant network aims to enhance environmental sustainability and neighborhood resilience as communities prepare to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.
Transforming Eyesores into Ecological Assets
High-traffic ditches and medians across Jackson historically act as litter traps, creating visual blight and requiring dangerous, time-consuming maintenance for city crews. Building on a successful two-acre pilot program from last year that completely eliminated the need for mowing and chemical herbicides in a troubled median, this grant will scale Jackson's green infrastructure.
The $2,000 funding will be spent entirely on native Tennessee wildflower seed mixes, covering 2 to 4 acres of median space.
A Sustainable, Multi-Department Collaboration
The project will be spearheaded by the Keep Jackson Beautiful Coordinator Shantell Hoefling, working closely with the City Groundskeeping Department. Groundskeeping staff will handle initial land clearing and professional seed sowing to maximize germination success, later integrating the sites into regular maintenance routes to monitor soil moisture during droughts while the KJB Commission will recruit and manage community volunteers for supplemental care, such as hand-clearing debris during peak planting windows.
"By replacing high-maintenance grass with a self-sustaining floral canopy, we are shifting from reactive litter abatement to proactive community enhancement," said Mayor Scott Conger. "This project turns the spirit of the Greatest American Cleanup into a permanent, living landmark for Jackson. When public spaces are cared for, residents take pride in them, effectively stopping litter at its root cause."
Measurable Environmental and Financial Impact
Beyond beautification, the native pollinator gardens serve as functional green corridors that reduce the dangerous asphalt "heat island effect" and protect vital local bee and butterfly populations. To evaluate the project's long-term success, KJB and the City will track metrics across three key areas:
- Litter Reduction: Measuring litter collection weights pre-installation versus monthly post-bloom.
- Operational Savings: Comparing maintenance hours, fuel, and herbicide costs saved by eliminating routine mowing.
- Community Engagement: Gauging public pride of place through before-and-after transformations shared via social media.
By transforming a routine daily commute into a scenic experience, the Median Pollinator Plant Project delivers beautiful, sustainable infrastructure directly to the doorsteps of Jackson's diverse neighborhoods.