In the first year of the flower program, several workers planted flowers in front of the courthouse. This year, about 25 workers and a group of supervisors will plant between 3,000 and 4,000 flowers at 12 locations throughout the two cities. For the second year now, the COurt has worked with the Alen Park Beautification Commission as a joint partner. This year, the workers will plant flowers in front of the courthouse, Champaign Park, the Leo Paluch Senior Apartment Building, the Allen Park Library, Coogan Terrace, the corner of Pelham and Pinecrest, two locations in the Southfield Road median, and four locations along Wick Road. The workers were all convicted of misdemeanors, mostly driving offenses.
Workers volunteer to participate in the work program as an alternative to jail time.
The workers will be supervised at all times, and are required to wear bright orange vests identifying them as members of the work program. The program does not cost the court or the community anything as the defendants pay to participate on the work program, and the flowers were purchased with money collected from defendants. 24th District Court Probation Officer and Work Program Supervisor Tricia Aronson has participated in the flower planting for the past three years. She said that the workers receive plenty of compliments from members of the community who drive by the work sites. They are proud of themselves when they are done, and it's better for them to get their hands dirty and accomplish something than it is to sit in jail.