8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 5-11, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com 831 Little by little, the landscape in King City has changed—often for the better. And many of the noticeable improvements are thanks to a team of volunteers dedicated to beautification and preservation. King City In Bloom is a nonprofit launched in 2016 by Laurie Slaten and Phoebe Cheney. The group organizes cleaning, historic preservation and enhancement projects in downtown King City, inspired by the slogan “planting city pride.” The volunteer-based group is a member of a larger organization called America In Bloom, which started in 2001 and promotes beautification nationwide, achieved through community involvement and education. According to Allie Cullen, president of King City In Bloom, City Manager Steve Adams first suggested starting a local AIB chapter—an idea based upon experience. Before coming to King City, Adams was the city manager of Arroyo Grande, which had an active volunteer group affiliated with AIB. Adams says KCIB has been a key to revitalizing the downtown. And he’s not alone. “King City In Bloom has been a wonderful part of our community,” local historian Karen Jernigan says, highlighting in particular the landscaping and mural projects the organization has undertaken in the downtown area. The vibrant murals include scenes from King City’s past and present. The historic King City train depot mural on First Street and Broadway represents the important feature circa 1886, and it’s located in the area where the depot once stood. Other works point to the importance of agriculture in the community. For instance, “Tribute to Agriculture,” on a wall at El Pueblo Market on Broadway Street, depicts everyday scenes in the fields and businesses. There are murals dedicated to cattle ranching and to the Salinas Valley Fair. Jennifer Beebe Hargrove, a designer, muralist and former King City resident, helped to create the murals and they came to life thanks to the work of local artists and volunteers. The most recent recognizes Mission San Antonio De Padua. But public art is just one aspect of the organization’s efforts. KCIB took on a project at the King City branch of Monterey County Free Libraries that involved mowing the grounds and improving the outdoor seating area. At the city’s recreational center, volunteers planted trees and refurbished the planters. They also purchased and placed banners featuring El Camino Real, the 600-mile route that once connected the 21 Spanish missions in California. “It’s just an overall great feeling to take something that was in dire need of help and make it look beautiful,” Cullen says. “It’s really a labor of love.” While King City In Bloom started small—“just the three of us,” Cullen recalls—it now can call on more than 60 volunteers to tackle a variety of projects. These include quarterly citywide cleanups, as well as the annual beautification week that has been on the city’s calendar for over 30 years. The group also partners with other organizations to help realize their projects. They have joined with Sun Street Centers, a local rehabilitation operation that works to educate the community about drug and alcohol addiction and prevention; the Arts Council for Monterey County; and Future Farmers of America. Cullen says Sun Street Centers in particular is an important partner. Up to a dozen of Sun Street’s clients regularly take part in KCIB projects. “We could not do what we do without them, for sure,” Cullen notes, adding that as more people recognize the benefits of beautification, the commitment grows. “People see it and it is contagious.” To further encourage participation— even indirectly—King City In Bloom created a Yard of the Month program earlier this year. Winners receive bragging rights in the form of a sign, as well as a gift card from The Garden House. To learn more about King City In Bloom or to participate in upcoming events, visit kingcityinbloom.com or fb.com/KingCityinBloom. Petal to the Mettle A local volunteer organization in King City is working to make the community bloom. By Celia Jiménez King City In Bloom volunteers do beautification projects, including the one shown above—planting colorful flowers and maintaining outdoor seating at the branch library. “People see it and it is contagious.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS
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