City Eliminates Older Decorations, New Displays On The Way
December 1, 2010
By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal
Greenwood, SC - For more than a decade, those passing through Uptown Greenwood during the holidays were greeted by lighted snowflakes adorning certain poles.
However, that is no longer the case, as the City of Greenwood has officially retired the snowflakes after nearly 15 years of use. City manager Charlie Barrineau said upkeep on the snowflakes simply had become too costly.
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“The maintenance and upkeep of the light bulbs on the flakes had become too expensive to continue,” Barrineau said. “We were better off selling the snowflakes and purchasing new, energy efficiency LED lighting. We had hoped to roll out new decorations during the Holiday Open House weekend. However, unfortunately shipping from the West Coast has been delayed.”
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City workers install new life size candy cane decorations.
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The items being shipped from the west coast to which Barrineau referred are a number of “life size” ornaments and decorations that could be installed around Uptown in the next two weeks. The ornaments would be installed in a similar manner to the popular topiaries that appear Uptown during the Festival of Flowers.
The “life size” Christmas decorations set to be placed Uptown include:
*A giant teddy bear.
*Building blocks.
*A giant closed book.
*A toy soldier with a drum.
*Gift boxes with bows.
*A glitter ball ornament.
*A candy cane.
*A Jack-in-the-box.
Barrineau said the giant decorations are meant to draw people into Uptown.
“We wanted to follow the success of the S.C. Festival of Flowers topiary displays by offering displays that could easily create photograph opportunities for children and other pedestrians,” the city manager said. “We believe a very organized and planned holiday display in the Uptown area can be an additional visitor draw for Greenwood.
“Presently, city council is committed to a multi-year approach to improving decorations to draw business into the city center.”
Also, there currently are new garland pole wraps with LED lighting and red bows adorning certain light poles Uptown.
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