ASHLAND — The city of Ashland will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Wednesday by dying Town Creek green.
Mayor Matt Miller intends to color the creek at noon with a ceremony on the Broad Street bridge, which connects the city’s municipal parking lot with the Ashland County building’s parking lot near Corner Park.
“You’ve seen it done in big cities like Chicago and Tampa and we are utilizing the same biodegradable dye they use to turn that water green,” Miller said.
He announced the plan at a Tuesday evening city council meeting.
“Other communities will be green with envy,” councilman Dennis Miller said in response to the announcement.
According to Mayor Miller, he had intentions to dye the creek green last year, when the pandemic made him reconsider.
“If you recall last year, right before St Patrick’s Day, the governor shut down the state, and it just didn’t seem like the right mood or atmosphere to be turning the creek green,” Mayor Miller said. “Well, a year later, people are getting the vaccine, people are excited to be out and about and the weather is cooperating.”
The mayor said he ran the plan by the water department, sanitation officials and soil and water officials. It was approved.
The biodegradable dye was not bought with taxpayer dollars, Miller noted.
He encouraged people to stop by the bridge for a view of the water and to support local restaurants for lunch afterwards.
