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In 1997, Garland became a
self-initiated participant in the Texas Urban Main Street Program. It was
during this time that Main Street established a steering committee,
obtained widespread public support for the program, and raised financial
support from the public and private sectors to make application to the
Texas Historical Commission for full designation as an Urban Main Street
City. With these goals met, Main Street Garland became an official Urban
Main Street City through the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas
Main Street Center in Austin in 1998.
Since that time, Main Street
Garland has acquired over 200 members in paid memberships and has the
support of over 100 volunteers. Main Street has also been recognized by
the National Main Street Center and the National Trust for Historic
Preservation as a National Main Street City in 1999 and 2000. This
successful program has produced events such as Springfest Fridays (held in
April and May), Kidsfest (held in April), Garland Heritage Festival, Dog
Days of Garland and Diez y Seis Fiesta that gives the community a chance
to come and visit the historic downtown area and learn about the
revitalization process currently in progress. Main Street also assists the
downtown business owners with marketing assistance and promotion
campaigns.
Current Main Street projects
include a canopy removal program to remove outdated awnings that were
installed in the 1970s around the square and making application to the
National Trust for Historic Preservation to designate the Downtown area as
a national historical district.
Main Street Garlands Vision
Statement is "to create a vibrant downtown that through historic
preservation and economic development continues to revitalize downtown
Garland as a safe, attractive and unique destination, in which anyone can
spend an entire day."
Main Street Garlands mission
statement is "Main Street Garland, a project of Friends of Historic
Downtown Garland, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which has
established a partnership between public and private sectors dedicated to
the revitalization of the Central Business District. Main Street Garland
is based upon a comprehensive strategy emphasized by the Texas Main Street
Program, a program of the Texas Historical Commission, and the National
Trust for Historic Preservations Main Street Center. Our community
effort features four elements: organization, promotion, design, and
economic restructuring."
Citizens who would like to be a
part of this exciting community-based effort may contact the Garland Main
Street Office, 1200 Main Street, Suite 220, Western Bank & Trust
Building, Garland, Texas 75040. The office can be reached by phone at
(972) 494-5209, by fax at (972) 276-8106, and by e-mail at .
Steering Committee Members include the following:
Bob Duckworth (Western Bank & Trust), Chair
Russell Duckworth (InfoQuest), 1st Vice Chair
Polly Schlosser (GISD), 2nd Vice Chair
Kerry Peavy (Garland Furniture), Secretary
Gerry Cooper, Attorney at Law
Jeff Karnuth (aai Trophies & Awards)
Ray Leszcynski (The Garland News)
Paul Mayer (Garland Chamber of Commerce)
Jack McDaniel (Roach Feed & Seed)
Anita Russelmann (City of Garland)
Rena Taylor (Rena Taylor Estate Gallery)
Cecil Williams (Williams Funeral Directors)
Karen Wunsch (City of Garland)
Created and maintained
by the City of Garland, Management Information Services Department and Public Information
Department - Report page problems and suggestions to: - Last Updated: 12/14/00
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