Gregg's Gardens' organizers want to make sure its namesake has a greenspace worthy of him.
A fundraiser for the Warren beatification project is planned Friday at the Horseshoe Bar, 206 E. Market St., and Dennis Blank of Warren Expressed said the proceeds will pay for the garden sponsored in Gregg Snyder's name. The project to turn abandoned, over-grown lots in the city into gardens is named for Snyder, who died following a bicycle accident last year. The cost for sponsoring each space is about $850, but Blank said they hope to raise more than that at the Horseshoe.
''We obviously want to have a nice garden dedicated specifically to him in addition to the overall dedication of the project,'' Blank said. ''The goal of the fundraiser is to fund his particular garden and go well beyond the basic $850 so we can make something just a little extra nice for him.''
So far the project has exceeded fundraising goals, Blank said. Gregg's Gardens originally had access to 21 lots on Atlantic Street. It raised enough money for 23 lots, so organizers received permission to plant on two privately owned parcels.
''We began work last week killing weeds, which is the first step,'' Blank said. ''If the weather cooperates and we don't run into any particular problems, we should be planting seeds in another 10 days.''
Donations will be collected from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, and a 50/50 raffle also is planned. The Dennis Drummond Group will perform starting at 9 p.m.
Drummond, who graduated earlier this month from Berklee College of Music in Boston and performed for The Eagles and Alison Krauss at the school's commencement concert, said his band was willing to donate its time because he believes it is a worthy project.
''Gregg was a close friend of my brother's, and anything we could do to help out the area and help out the gardens is great,'' Drummond said. ''It's cool to see his legacy is being lived on in something that will help the area and make it more beautiful.''