Project to beautify Campbell Avenue shopping district

The most noticeable feature will be lush, green container gardens in large, red planters on several corners between East Grant and Fort Lowell roads, said city engineering manager Sam Credio.

The gardens will include rosemary, Mexican grass trees, lantana, Texas mountain laurel, bird of paradise and indigo bushes, among other plants.

The city also will build eight sections of raised medians in the center turn lane. The medians will have red gravel, bottle trees, lantana and yucca.

City Councilwoman Karin Uhlich predicted people will notice the landscaping theme, and it will create a sense of place and make the shopping district seem more like a destination.

The Campbell Avenue Business Partnership has been the driving force on this project, which has been 10 years in the making.

“I just feel like it’s really important to make Campbell Avenue a nicer place to be,” said Sharon Bart, Partnership president and owner of The Running Shop.

Walkability was a top priority for the businesses and neighborhoods, she said.

Project features for pedestrians include replacing broken sidewalks, adding sidewalks where there are none, upgrading curb ramps and adding stamped asphalt crosswalks that will look like red brick, Credio said.

Construction will be kept to a tight schedule, beginning in June or July and wrapping up by the end of the summer to minimize harm to businesses, he said.

The construction will cost about $680,000. The money comes from a 2005 Transportation Enhancement grant from the Federal Highway Administration and from the Regional Transportation Authority.