West Central Tribune Mar 3, 2008

Design Center seeks ideas for sprucing up the city’s downtown hanging baskets By David Little

WILLMAR — The Willmar Design Center is launching a design competition for this year’s downtown hanging baskets.

Rather than plant the usual tried-and-true in its downtown baskets, the Design Center would like to innovate — provide the lush color and interest of traditional hanging baskets in a way that is uniquely Willmar.

Creative ideas will be sought from landscape companies, nurseries and others in the “green’’ industry. The winner of the competition will be selected through a juried process to provide and install the plant materials.

The idea for the competition was proposed by Adam Arvidson of Minneapolis, the Design Center’s urban designer. He says this type of design competition is fairly rare, but will be a great way to generate new thinking and excitement for the downtown amenity.

“I’ve never actually heard of one for hanging baskets before, so this is a really novel idea,’’ said Arvidson.

In this June 29, 2006, file photo, Mallory Peterson waters the flowers in the hanging baskets located around downtown Willmar. The Willmar Design Center has launched a competition in which it will accept designs to spruce up the baskets.

“This is an opportunity for them to really get into the design side and take on an interesting project.’’

The competition will be open to any entity or group of people to provide and install materials for 60 baskets within a budget of $6,000 to $9,000. A special invitation will be made to local nurseries. The competition will be promoted statewide by the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association, headquartered in Roseville, said Arvidson.

Each entrant will be required to submit a big poster that shows innovative and unique plant selections. Submissions are due March 25 at the Design Center.

A “blind’’ jury process will be used in which submittals are not identified, according to Arvidson. He said Bob Fitch, executive director of the state nursery and landscape association, has tentatively agreed to serve on the jury. Other jury members will represent landscape professionals and the general public.

Entrants will be judged and displayed from March 26 through April 2, said Arvidson. Installation of the baskets would begin on May 5, weather permitting. Maintenance will be provided by the city based on recommendations from the winning entrant.

Members of the public will have a chance to vote on their favorite design. The top vote-getting design will be considered as one vote on the jury, said Arvidson.

Submittals will be judged according to the following criteria:

Uniqueness and design innovation. The Design Center does not want the same hanging baskets that are ubiquitous in many cities.

Pertinence to Willmar. Willmar has a unique ecology and diverse pre-settlement native plant palette, as well as diverse population.

Environmental consideration. Submitters are encouraged to develop concepts that are appropriate for the particular conditions of a hanging basket, so that maintenance and watering can be minimized.

Budget. Though not the primary consideration, submissions should remain within $6,000 to $9,000.

Arvidson suggested the competition after Beverly Dougherty, Design Center project coordinator, asked him what could be done with this year’s baskets. The Design Center handled the basket project in 2006 and 2007, but the results were less than desired, according to Dougherty.

“I think it can be fantastic and we haven’t gotten there yet. The third year I hope is the charm,’’ she said.

A hanging basket is seen in downtown Willmar in this June 29, 2006, file photo. The Willmar Design Center will conduct a competition open to any entity or group of people to provide and install materials for the 60 baskets hanging in downtown Willmar, within a budget of $6,000 to $9,000.