Harriston’s downtown set to be ‘beautified’ with painted alleyway

MINTO – The grassroots, community-led Harriston Rising movement is “beautifying” downtown Harriston once again.

“Harriston Rising has been hard at work looking for different beautification projects,” town director of economic and community development Belinda Wick-Graham told council at an Aug. 12 meeting.

Last summer, improvements were made by the committee to an alleyway located between the Town Hall Theatre and Homestyle Bites and Catering business.

Improvements included fencing with artificial greenery and flowers, a bright coloured table and lighting.

This time around the committee proposed painting bright colours onto one side of the alleyway to make it look more “attractive,” Wick-Graham said.

“Ryan and Chantelle Koeslag have graciously offered us to paint this portion of their building,” she said.

Local artist Stephanie Hood is slated to pick up the paintbrush for this project in September.

The four colours are blue, green, red and yellow – Harriston Rising’s brand colours.

“It’s not a mural but the type of agreement is similar to a mural agreement,” Wick-Graham explained.

The total project cost is $1,800 and falls in the committee’s capital budget of $4,000.

Council approved both agreements unanimously.