YOUNGSTOWN — A drive through the city’s downtown reveals a series of partially closed streets and lots of orange construction barrels, though in a few months, many additional colors will grace the corridor.

“Adding to the art, aesthetics and amenities, and forming community partnerships, is also what the planting is about,” Sharon Letson, Youngstown CityScape’s executive director, said.

She was referring to this year’s Youngstown Streetscape planting day, set for 9 a.m. to noon June 1 in Central Square and surrounding parts of the city.

Letson made her comments about the special annual planting and beautification effort during CityScape’s 27th annual Streetscape kickoff breakfast and gathering Friday morning in the IBM building, 250 E. Federal St., downtown.

The nonprofit Youngstown CityScape, a community-development organization, lists revitalizing the greater downtown area as a top priority. Since its inception, the organization has created programs to energize and beautify the spaces and further connect the city, Youngstown State University and adjacent neighborhoods via strategic partnerships, its mission statement shows.

Earlier this year, CityScape opened office space on the building’s fourth floor.

Volunteers are needed to take part in the three-hour beautification project that will entail planting a variety of colorful flowers and shrubs and mulching flower beds as well as removing weeds and debris. Besides Central Square, work will occur along East and West Federal streets, the B&O Station, city hall, the John Young memorials, the South Avenue Bridge Police Memorial, Wick Park, Williamson Staircase, Harrison Common, Smoky Hollow and elsewhere.

Letson also reflected on her organization’s accomplishments last year, including renovations to CityScape’s greenhouse facilities. Nurturing existing partnerships and expanding the organization’s footprint continue to be key goals going forward, she said.

Planting days are invaluable not only because of adding color and beauty to the downtown corridor, they also are healthy for the environment – especially in a time of climate change, Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said. Along those lines, it’s important for individuals to do their part, he added.

“Everything we do at CityScape will help with that,” Brown said.

Linda Macala, the Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau’s executive director, said her agency intends to continue its partnership with Youngstown CityScape. Macala added that she appreciates the impact and impression CityScape continues to have on the city and, by extension, those who visit the corridor.

Also during the gathering, Bob Burke, Green Youngstown’s litter and recycling coordinator, announced “The Youngstown Litter League,” an initiative in the works that will be aimed at ridding the city of discarded trash around highways as well as in its neighborhoods, parks, sidewalks, lakes and streams.

The baseball-themed effort intends to use friendly competition as a motivator for community members to remove litter from those areas, Burke said. Teams are to consist of area businesses, faith-based and civic organizations, neighborhood groups, private clubs, individuals and others, he added.

In addition, Letson handed a People’s Choice Award to Sarah Schuler, who graduated in December from YSU with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. Schuler designed an artistic rendering in her site-specific painting class of nature around the Marshall Street Bridge, which was among the pieces of art displayed at the breakfast.

Those interested in volunteering for the planting day June 1 can sign up at www.youngstowncityscape.org/streetscape.

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