The Morgan Hill Downtown Association hosted its first "Chalk It Up" event April 19 to bring people downtown, according to Executive Director Jorge Briones.
More than 100 people decorated downtown sidewalks on Monterey Road between First and Third streets with a variety of chalk-drawn designs.
Participants checked in at Hot Java coffee shop paying the $5 fee to participate and get their chalk.
Briones said many of the creations had a springtime theme.
"It was great to see what people came up with," he said. "There were some that showed surprising talent. Some were solo works of art, others were created by entire families. We had about 100 people down on their hands and knees, with ages ranging from 3- to 4-year-olds up to 85-year-olds. The whole idea was to get residents and families to spend some time downtown doing something fun."
The event was a success, he said, because many people just came out to see what was going on, as well as the large number of participants. He said the association hoped to bring people into downtown businesses, and he believes that happened.
"We had a significant increase of traffic in stores that day," he said. "People told merchants that's why they were downtown. From that standpoint, it was a success. From a financial standpoint, it was also good. We had no budget going in to do this event, we weren't going to go out and put a bunch of dollars behind it until we found out was it gonna fly or was it not. Our only advertising was the marquis on the Granada (Theater) and a flier distribution that went out to schools ... Based on the success of event, we'll be bringing it back, either with the Downtown Music Series or as a separate event, but we'll bring it back before the end of summer."
Briones said he sees "huge potential" for this event, which, like others the association is planning, will be managed by MHDA's new special event administrator, Danielle Boulger.
Born and raised in Morgan Hill, Boulger, 26, said she has a special affinity for the downtown area.
"My parents owned a restaurant downtown years ago, so I'm familiar with the dynamics of the area," she said. "You could say I have a vested interest in the downtown. I think it's a special place, and I want to make a difference downtown."
Boulger will manage all aspects of the various events, Briones said.
"We have multiple events this year, a big step up from what we've done in years past," he said. "Danielle will be stepping in to manage and coordinate things ... I'm really excited, ecstatic, to have her on board. She understands the whole big picture."
Boulger has a degree in communications from Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo and most recently worked at Custom One in Gilroy.
Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or send her an email.
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