ROYAL CITY - Thanks to cooperation between several businesses, individuals and city government, the entrance to Royal City will receive major beautification in the next couple of weeks.

Preliminary work was completed before last week. Last Saturday, the first of two phases of heavy hand work was completed. Phase 2 will be completed in two Saturdays.

According to volunteer Lisa Villegas, owner of the Seed Cupboard Nursery, one of the participating businesses, the city approved $3,000 from its beautification fund, and SHOC (Strengthening the Heart of the Community) donated $500 for the project.

"It's exciting to see so many people, groups and businesses plan to work together," Villegas said.

Two areas will be beautified. The first is a site of approximately 152 feet by 18 feet to the east side of Royal Avenue, starting at Highway 26. The other site is the corner of Royal and Camelia Street, triangular shaped with 40 feet on one side and 20 on another..

Preliminary work included extension of water to the sites by the city for irrigation purposes. Some curbing work was also performed. Topsoil was brought to the site by the Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District.

Phase 1 of the hand work was performed on Saturday, September 14. The Royal Slope LDS church group and other community volunteers lent a hand.

According to Villegas, the volunteers were there to level soil, cover it with heavy duty plastic, cover that with gravel, lay blocks and pavers, and lay out the irrigation system for plants to come later.

Heavy-duty plastic, for weed control, was donated by Frank Mianecki. Ground cover rock was donated by Callahan enterprises.

The block used in the project was purchased at a cost of approximately $3 per block. The cement work near Mack's Mocha was donated by Spud Brown, and so were two tables that will be cemented it.

The irrigation system was purchased from Desert Rain Irrigation. The parts were on site when the volunteers arrived. The system will be operated over the next two weeks for pre-irrigation of the soil.

Block was laid at the back of the project on the corner on Royal and Camelia.

Phase 2 of the project will be completed on Saturday, Sept. 28. Seed Cupboard will supply the shrubs, grasses and other landscaping plants at a discounted price.

The Royal Gardening club, along with volunteers from the community, will plant the areas.

For questions or comments regarding this project, or to offer to volunteer, contact Lisa Villegas, Seed Cupboard Nursery, 509-989-0428, or Kim Delay, LDS Church, 509-760-1603.