By Kevin Werner, News Staff

Former Hamilton mayor Bob Morrow enhanced his reputation by introducing the citys floral traffic island program, believing it boosted Hamiltons image.

After several years of cutbacks, former mayor Fred Eisenberger boosted the program in an attempt to re-energize the city.

Now councillors want more flowers on traffic islands.

Its a winner, said Mountain councillor Tom Jackson. People love to see it.

When Morrow lost the 2000 municipal election, the floral island program slowly declined under mayors Bob Wade and Larry Di Ianni, as part of the citys cost-cutting measure. Of 247 floral traffic islands, there remained 155. About 70 of them were converted to gravel and rock, while another 22 islands had their flowers removed.

But in 2007, councillors started to see the benefits of having colourful flowers along the roadways. They agreed to add five full-time employees, and provided $368,000 capital costs, and another $285,000 in operating funding to re-instate the program.

Today there are 264 floral island programs, with ward 2 having the most at 102. Ward 1 has 40, while ward 6 has 19, ward 7 nine, and ward 8 24. Wards 11, 14 and 15 have no floral islands.

There is some converted to gravel, said Dundas councillor Russ Powers. Some make sense, some dont.

More:

Councillors plant seed for more floral islands