Photo above: These are just some of the hundreds of people who have turned out over the last several months to help improve Duke Street. Photo provided.
<h3>Staff reports</h3>
Beaufort city leaders are celebrating a successful grassroots partnership that has improved a section of downtown’s Duke Street.&nbsp;

To celebrate the program, a ribbon cutting was held June 6 at 1205 Duke St. in recognition of the hundreds of volunteer hours that helped make the project possible.&nbsp;

Part of the Beaufort Redevelopment Commission’s “Street by Street” initiative, the Duke Street demonstration site work began in summer 2016 through a partnership with the Beaufort Housing Authority, city of Beaufort, Clemson Extension and Lowcountry Master Gardeners. &nbsp;

The project involved painting the three public housing duplexes, one of which houses the city of Beaufort Police Substation, with fresh colors; landscaping the homes with native plants; creating a pocket park on what was previously a bare section of land that had once been a parking lot; and creating two colorful murals.&nbsp; &nbsp;

“This is an exceptional example of what can happen when we join hands,” Beaufort City Manager Bill Prokop said. “Now we have a visible and viable showcase of the ‘Street by Street’ project and we look forward to expanding it to other key areas.”&nbsp;

Hundreds of volunteer hours were invested in transforming this Duke Street site, engaging residents, neighbors, master gardeners, Cub Scouts, city staff and elected officials in the process. &nbsp;

Materials and services were donated by local businesses, organizations and residents.&nbsp;

Planning and design for the project began in May 2016, and hands-on work began in late August 2016. &nbsp;

More projects are on the horizon.

On Saturday, July 1, the project will expand to Washington Street, with some continuation of Duke Street work until the end of 2017.&nbsp;

Plans are to focus on a new street each year in the area between Carteret Street and Ribaut Road to re-energize Beaufort neighborhoods, said Deborah Johnson, who works with the Redevelopment Commission on the project. &nbsp;

Hands-on volunteers for the Street-by-Street Infill Initiative at Duke Street have included neighbors and residents; Beaufort Housing Authority staff, board members and contractors; Clemson Cooperative Extension horticultural agent Laura Lee Rose; Lowcountry Master Gardeners, led by Sheila Drouin who designed the landscaping; Cub Scout Pack #1; designer/artist Jeremiah Smith who designed and coordinated painting of the murals; the city of Beaufort, including the Redevelopment Commission, mayor and city council, planning department, public works department, police and fire departments.&nbsp;

Donors of goods and services included Allison Ramsey Architects; Hargray; CenturyLink; Easy Rentals; Lowes; J.Weidner Landscaping; Padgett Tree Service; Simmons Irrigation Supply; and Scott Sonoc and Marsha Williams providing services of Buds &amp; Blooms Landscaping.&nbsp;

For more information, contact Johnson at 843-592-5546 or djohnson@islc.net.