Opinion: Denver community beautification: an ongoing effort
Stephanie Murphy
Do you ever wonder who makes parts of Denver cause you to turn your head and think, “Wow, that looks really good compared to before,” as you drive by? That answer is simple, volunteers with the Denver Beautification Committee (DBC) and Keep Lincoln County Beautiful (KLCB).
KLCB was established in February 2019. DBC was established in August 2021 to complete beautification projects in eastern Lincoln County that KLCB was unable to complete. KLCB’s focus is county-wide, whereas DBC is focused primarily on the Denver community. The two groups work together for all of Lincoln County.
DBC believes that there are many ways to beautify a community. A summary of their strategies includes completing projects at our local schools, planting trees and flowers, cleaning litter on and near our roads or in storm drains, reporting and removing improper signs, cleaning and maintaining areas around traffic signs, reporting traffic signs needing repair or replacement, reporting abandoned/dilapidated structures for removal (12 demolished to date), working with local businesses to resolve problems, speaking/lobbying for improvements in East Lincoln County at County Commissioner meetings and with NCDOT, among others.
You may not have realized the way DBC’s work has impacted you as an East Lincoln citizen. After this article, I hope you will not only appreciate the depth and breadth of their work but also be motivated to join the team.
DBC has completed projects for the students and families at Catawba Springs Elementary, Denver Christian Academy, East Lincoln High School, North Lincoln Middle School (NLMS), Rock Springs Elementary, and St James Elementary. They got approval for buses to run routes into the Villages of Denver neighborhood for children’s safety. They also installed the bronze statue of a young girl reading on a bench at the Florence Shanklin Library and planted new trees at NLMS (both projects were funded by generous donations from Mrs. Elaine Carter).
DBC successfully lobbied NCDOT to provide a street sweeping machine twice a year along NC-73 between NC-16 Business and NC-16 Bypass and at the roundabout on NC-16 Business south of NC-73. They also convinced NCDOT to remove the No Right on Red sign at NC-16 Business and Pilot Knob Road given the clear line of sight to oncoming traffic.
One of DBC’s biggest focuses is reporting and removing improper signage along our roadsides, making our roads safer and more attractive. Improper signs include floppy signs in the right of way, signs on telephone/utility poles, and windblown flags. Excluding election season when candidate signs are along roadsides, I believe you will see a clear difference between Denver and other local communities.
Where you may have seen the DBC volunteers first hand is during roadside, curb, median, and storm drain cleanups. These events have been reported in the KLCB annual report since 2019 when Lincoln County became an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. Most of these cleanups are done in the Denver area. In 2025, volunteers devoted 695 hours to remove 987 bags of litter and devoted 296 hours to clean up 608 bags of debris.
Community beautification is not a one-time event, but an on-going effort requiring our entire community’s support. Our ask is that you as an East Lincoln County citizen do not litter (including cigarette butts), cover and secure your vehicle loads, and follow the rules of the road and community. If you fly the U.S. flag during the hours of darkness, ensure the flag is properly illuminated. Maintain the appearance of your properties including residential, business, and commercial. If you live on lake property, please do not blow leaves into the lake as this is harmful to the lake. Last, if you see a problem, report it, and be kind to each other.
If you have project ideas or would like to become a volunteer, please contact Patty Korn at pattykornpjk@aol.com or 704-451-7313.
If you would like to make a financial donation, please mail checks to the East Lincoln Betterment Association, P.O. Box 922, Denver, NC 28037, with “Beautification” in the memo field.
On behalf of East Lincoln County, I want to thank DBC for the ongoing efforts to keep our community beautiful.