PENINSULA – The Peninsula will soon sport a new look for arriving visitors. With installation of a new traffic signal at the junction of Sandridge Road and state highway 101, there are plans underway to add plantings along the highway to beautify the Peninsula’s main entry way.

During the Gateway Community Workshop, sponsored by Destination: The Pacific in March, one team of community leaders decided the area could be made more attractive by the addition of native, easy-care plants along 101, a state Scenic Highway.

“Team Seaview/Long Beach” has been working with Dan Corlett, landscape architect with Washington State Department of Transportation and Dirk Sweringen of English Nursery in Seaview, to choose plants for the area from Sandridge Road to the intersection at Hwy. 103. All project costs have been raised by the committee.

“This is a real community effort. The outpouring of support shows the pride in our community,” says Nan Malin, a member of the team. Malin, of the Seaview Historical Preservation Society, is coordinating volunteers for the actual planting days, which are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 6 and again Friday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 13.

With all the plants ordered, the team is now seeking additional volunteers to help with the actual planting along the roadway.

“We are hoping to get everything in the ground before the rains come so all the plants stand a good chance of surviving,” explains Dian Barker-Sayce, team member from the Bank of the Pacific.

Volunteers will meet at the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, headquarters for the project. The first weekend will focus on plantings around the Hwy. 101 and Hwy. 103 intersection. The second weekend, Oct 12 and Oct 13, volunteers will be working near the Sandridge Road and Hwy. 101 intersection from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Volunteers are encouraged to wear reflective or orange clothing and to bring work gloves and shovels. There will be a limited supply of orange vests and tools available for those unable to supply their own.

For more information or to sign up, call Nan Malin at 642-2444 (e-mail nansen@mrdatacorp.com) or stop by the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau in Seaview or the Long Beach branch of The Bank of the Pacific.

“We welcome everyone to come for a few hours or stay all day. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. There will be a tent set up at the Visitors Bureau where volunteers can check in and pick a task that fits their ability. We will need all levels of help. Even if you can’t dig and plant, there will be something for everyone to do,” says Malin. Other team members are Una Boyle of the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, Fred Cook, council member for the city of Long Beach, and Curtis Epping of Funland.

Funding and donations have been provided by the city of Long Beach, Cottage Bakery, Dennis Company, English Nursery, Gary Luethe, Green Angel Gardening, Ilwaco Merchants Association, Long Beach Coffee Roasters, Long Beach Merchants Association, Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, Loyalty Day Foundation, Ocean Beach Hospital, Oman & Son Builders Supply, Peninsula Sanitation Service, Sandridge Topsoil & Bark, Seaview Historical Preservation Society, Templin Foundation and Wirkkala Construction.