News Flash

The City of Charlestown is accepting bids to design and landscape eight medians located on Market Street (IN-3). An Invasive Species Removal Grant from Indiana American Water was awarded to the Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District to use in Charlestown. Invasive Bradford Pear trees were removed in the fall of 2021 to prevent the spread of starlings.

Partnering with the City of Charlestown with the project to remove Invasive Species include Indiana American Water, Clark County Harmful Invasives Removal Project, Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Indiana Invasives Initiative.

Landscaping bids are encouraged to seek artistic elements to the islands while using indigenous plants in a limited capacity. Sought after ideas of artistic elements include utilizing colors, textures, and scale. Along with plant life, utilize bark/mulch, stone, rock, and other elements to add sense of depth and creativity to the medians. Examples are provided. Creativity and originality welcomed. Designs should be mindful of sightlines for motorist, cyclist, and pedestrians.

The idea is to make the medians works of art that will have a year-round beauty, while keeping them low maintenance. Keep in mind, taking natural elements of different colors and textures and adding greenery that would be enhanced with lights during Charlestown’s popular Christmas season.

From IN-62 to Pleasant Street, there are eight medians/islands on Market Street. The size of the medians, beginning from IN-62 are as follows:

1 (IN-62 to Pike Street) – Length, 291-feet (200-feet of soil); Width, 10-feet at widest point

2 (Pike Street to Walnut Street) – Length, 400-feet (326-feet of soil); Width, 14-feet at widest point

3 (Walnut Street to High Street) – Length, 190-feet (108-feet of soil); Width, 12-feet at widest point

4 (High Street to Green Alley) – Length, 185-feet (109-feet of soil); Width, 14-feet at widest point

5 (Green Alley to Main Street) – Length, 180-feet (92-feet of soil); Width, 13-feet at widest point

6 (Main Street to Water Street) – Length, 390-feet (304-feet of soil); Width, 14-feet at wideset point

7 (Water Street to Thompson) – Length, 401-feet (282-feet of soil); Width, 14-feet at widest point

8 (Thompson Street to Pleasant Street) - Length, 360-feet (277-feet of soil); Width, 11-feet at widest point

Native plant recommendations for Charlestown include the following:

Bradford Pear Alternatives

1. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
2. Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
3. Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)

Salt tolerant shrubs

1. Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis)
2. Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
3. Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)
4. Smooth hydragengea (Hydrangea arborescens)
5. Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)
6. Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
7. Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
8. New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

Perennial landscaping flowers to replace annuals

1. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
2. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
3. Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) 
4. Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata)
5. Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heteolepis)
6. Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)
7. Columbine (Aquilegia canadenses)
8. Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

For additional guidance on plant life, reach out to Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District at (812) 256-2330, ext. 3.

Submit designs, timelines, and bids to Mayor Treva Hodges, City of Charlestown by mail, 304 Main Cross Street, Charlestown, IN 47111 or by email mayor@cityofcharlestown.com.

The deadline to submit is March 10, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. If you have any questions, call (812) 256-3422 or email mayor@cityofcharlestown.com.

Request for Bid - Landscape Market Street

Overview of Market Street Medians

Overview of Artistic Ideas