Driving into the downtown area of Lincoln on Kickapoo Street, folks may have noticed the raised beds in the Lincoln Route 66 Welcome Garden on the Pekin Street side.

The beds look a bit sparse at the moment, but the intention is that as the summer goes on, the beds will grow a lush collection of native plants and flowers known to attract pollinators in general and monarch butterflies in particular.

This new Monarch Flyway garden is part of a Route 66 initiative to provide regular feeding locations for the Monarchs as they traverse to Mexico each year. Studies show that most of the Monarchs in Illinois follow a path coinciding with Route 66 through much of their trip.

This Friday evening will be the first Third Friday Downtown event in Lincoln starting at 5:30 p.m. The theme of the event is Bugs and Butterflies. In celebration of the new flyway, there will be a ribbon-cutting at 6 p.m. at the Welcome Garden. The community is encouraged to attend.

Photo by Nila Smith        [Click on image for larger version]

MOTORIST ALERT
Street Closure
Third Street in Lincoln

As part of the ComEd Lincoln MGP project, 3rd street will be closed between Decatur Street and Maple Street to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, for three days, beginning the afternoon of Tuesday, May 17th until the afternoon of Thursday, May 19th.

Full access is available to the Logan County Health Department and Carroll Catholic School during this period.

If you have any questions, please call the Lincoln Street Department at 217-732-4655.

Photo provided by the city of Lincoln        [Click on image for larger version]