During my travels around the county, I have become aware of a simmering just below the surface debate surrounding the idea of beautification. Many are for it while others take an uncharitable “lipstick on a pig” stance that would send even the overly confident Miss Piggy into hiding were she to overhear.
I understand the argument.
When a town has so many issues to address it can seem downright farcical for its leaders to consider “beauty” projects, BUT…
A lot of small towns across the nation are facing extinction or adaptation. If you wish to stay relevant and economically attractive to outside investors, how do you go about doing that with limited funds?
The simple answer is to start small— start where and with what you can afford.
Some people are very linear in their thinking, and it can be almost impossible for them to visualize the possible. One way to spoon-feed inspiration is through colorful planters, inviting benches, holiday decorations and murals that remind us not only of where we come from, but also where we can see ourselves going.
Beautification efforts have been statistically proven to lower crime, largely believed because residents start taking pride in where they live and want to see it continue to stay safe, protected, and most importantly, grow.
I look at a downtown mural and the colors and images inspire me to envision apartment loft spaces over businesses, families enjoying ice cream sundaes on a Sunday while sitting at a picnic table near the mural or a “Rainbow Row” styled district who’s vibrant, inviting colors denote it as an area for eclectic and creative businesses.
We are all familiar with the phrase, “If you build it, they will come,” but the same is also true of a fresh paint job and an inviting, well-lit downtown corner. The phrase is typically associated with the movie Field of Dreams and is about a baseball field— a baseball field that could not have been built were it not first for a blank canvas, also known as a corn field, whispering words of potential.
Unfortunately, when a change is truly worth it, it is often painful such as is the case in Bennettsville currently. Road construction is causing hardships for businesses, customers, natives, and out-of-towners alike, however businesses like Brew and Bake are rising to the top with new ideas and hours to attract customers old and new. Embracing change, as Brew and Bake is choosing to do, could mean a world of new possibilities for them to grow and evolve, perhaps one day even beyond coffee and ice cream.
The key to sticking around, to staying relevant, might just come from taking a page out of Madonna’s playbook. I think we can all agree that aside from her plastic surgeon, no one has reinvented Madonna more than herself.
No matter how you view her, Madonna’s success is undeniable, and she’s retained her popularity among every subsequent generation by finding a way to make subtle changes that adapt to the times.
It would be great if every depressed town’s leaders could snap their fingers and physically make businesses appear downtown, but since there is no financial fairy godmother, this fantasy remains out of reach.
Yes, maybe beautification efforts are a little bit like putting “lipstick on a pig” but similar to Madonna, no one can deny Miss Piggy’s lipsticked snout has carried her pretty far!