Waukegan students decorating the downtown area year-round

As city officials and developers work to revitalize downtown Waukegan, reusing older buildings and seeking proposals to build a new one, the city’s youth are on a mission to add decorative flair to the neighborhood.

Austin Cantu, a city public relations specialist and 2020 Waukegan High School graduate, heard his father tell stories about Genesee Street’s bustling retail businesses and other features that made downtown popular. Cantu developed a program to add to the area.

With the area currently decorated with corn stalks around light posts for a festive fall look and windows painted with a fall theme, he partners with Waukegan High School to help decorate the area at different times of the year.

“We not only want to make downtown a place where people enjoy businesses and festivals, but also one that the entire community can enjoy,” Cantu said. “Once fall is over, we will decorate downtown for the winter holidays.”

Dozens of high school students placed decorations on downtown light poles and artists painted store windows Oct. 4 in downtown Waukegan, kicking off a beautification program to complement existing activities as part of Downtown Decorate Day.

Active in the beautification of downtown Waukegan early in his high school years, Cantu said he became responsible for ArtPark, a formerly vacant lot containing artwork on Genesee Street between Washington and Water streets. It was started by artist Jim Harrington in 1997.

Always in touch with the high school staff, Cantu made arrangements with Maggie Strojoinc, physical education teacher and student council sponsor, to encourage students to beautify the area with appropriate decorations each season. There are already a number of crosswalk murals.

“Their goal is to make the city more beautiful,” he said of both projects. “We want to make downtown special so people want to be there.” »

Strojoinc said she liked the idea when Cantu approached her and suggested it as a project to the student council. They liked the plan and became responsible for adding decorations to the area at appropriate times of the year.

“The volunteers are all student council members,” Strojoinc said. “A lot of them are members of the National Honor Society. The students really want to do something to help their city.”

While several events will take place downtown over the next few months, Sophia Hernandez, a high school junior and student council member, said she and her classmates are excited to contribute to the festive environment.

“There’s the zombie walk (Dec. 18) and in December we have the tree lighting,” Hernandez said, “that’s important. It’ll make people feel good when they’re here.”

“We can help make a change here,” added Valeria Pulido, another junior at the school.

Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said in a text that it’s important for the next generation of residents to start taking an interest in their community. The students who decorate the area around Genesee Street are making a difference, he said.

“The City of Waukegan is grateful to the volunteers who stepped up and took pride in their city,” he wrote. “It was particularly inspiring to see our young people take the lead and take ownership of their community. Each volunteer truly contributed to making our city more beautiful and more festive.”

When it came time to paint some downtown storefronts, professionals like Cassandra Anzelone, programming manager of the Art Impact Project, and Brenna Strojoinc, an artist affiliated with Dandelion Gallery and Maggie’s daughter, were hired.

“It’s harvest time with the full moon,” Anzelone said as he painted a mural in the window of the Opera House, a bar on the southeast corner of Genesee and Clayton streets. “We’re doing this to help the community.”