FROSTBURG — The Frostburg Decks the Meters initiative remains the ticket to creativity, holiday spirit and fierce competition.
Organized in 2020 by Barbara Ornstein and Peggy Atkinson Blair, the program was launched as a way to get people out of their homes and connect in a safe way during the height of the pandemic.
It was an immediate success and now families, businesses and organizations sign up to claim their spot as soon as possible as there is now a waiting list.
Each one of the city’s 68 parking meters will be transformed into works of art. This year, the process was even more competitive as several meters were removed and two are obscured by fencing.
Amy Patton helps assign and track who has adopted each meter.
Meters will be decorated the week of Thanksgiving and will remain adorned until Jan. 1, 2025. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: Best Meter by Family or Individual; Best Meter by Business/Organization/Group; Churches; Holiday Spirit; and a Grand Prize. Winners receive a cash prize and the grand prize winner will receive a commemorative parking meter trophy.
The winners from last year’s contest were: Grand Prize — Bre Grove; Business/organization — Gonzaga Health, first place; Allegany Computers, second place; and Morton Farms, third place; Family/individual — Hanna/Kentrus family, first place; Shannon Pennington, second place; and Shockey Family, third place; Churches — Potter’s Place, first place; Eckhart Baptist Church, second place; and Barton Presbyterian Church, third place; and Holiday Spirit — Erin Cowan leukemia awareness tree in honor of Carson Negley.
Blair said she and Ornstein never imagined how the initiative would be embraced by the community and continue to be “thrilled” by the creativity demonstrated by the artists and the response of the community and visitors.
“The meters are a free and fun way to spend time during the holidays with family and friends. The decorators amaze me every year with their creativity. I think our meters are the best I’ve seen,” Blair said.