The mood is vibrant – contagious even. On the first day back after the three-day Labor Day holiday, the Downtown Development Authority agreed to expand its vision for Woodland Park.

Energized about seeing people walking in the downtown area, on sidewalks and along two alleyways, Quinn and Bergstrom, the board was upbeat.

Jon Gemelke, DDA chair, attributes some of the increased foot traffic to the city’s providing a more interesting ambience, particularly with the profusion of flower baskets.

The flowers and other improvements are the result of business owners taking advantage of the DDAs mini-grant program.

“We could grow our own flowers and not contract out,” Gemelke said, speaking at the meeting Sept. 2. “We’ve got Main Street coming on; maybe they could help us with the flowers.”

In further discussion, the DDA estimated that a greenhouse could cost up to $100,000.

If the DDA funded the greenhouse the city would maintain it, said city manager Aaron Vassalotti, adding that the preliminary budget shows $2.2 million for the DDA to fund improvements.

“I do see Bergstrom Park as a priority,” said Vassalotti, referring to the Reimagine Bergstrom Park renovation project. “I suspect it’s going to an expensive project, so we’ll be asking for a large grant for the DDA.”

The grant would be an addition to the DDA’s initial $40,000 contribution to the project.

In its vision for the downtown, the DDA agreed to renew the mini-grant program, consider the greenhouse option for flowers and do something to make Quinn and Bergstrom alleys more attractive.

However, Eric Cabrera urged caution when it comes to adding more restaurants and coffee shops in town.

“How many coffee shops do we need? We don’t need two Starbucks in our small town,” said Cabrera, who owns the Donut Mill.

With too many similar businesses, it cuts down the profits of each, he added.

Citing Manitou Springs has an example, Cabrera said all the stores in the interior of downtown area are locally owned.

“We do not have that – we are opening up chains left and right,” he said. “I think we need to be careful.”

Despite the ongoing rainstorms of the past several weeks, the Tava House project is moving along with a target date of March or April for opening of the restaurant/ steakhouse, said Mary Sekowski, an investor in the project.

“It’s looking great, and a lot of people are talking about it now,” Gemelke said. “Now we have something to show people.”