WILTON – Academy Hill student Savannah Fay planted marigolds in Bass Park on Thursday morning as part of a program to encourage the next generation to help revive and beautify the lakeside town with flowers and plants.

The sixth-grader and other students from Academy Hill and Cushing schools planted nearly 700 seedlings in beds overlooking Wilson Lake. They started the plants in April.

John Black of Rocky Hill Landscaping in Wilton said he remembers planting flowers as a child in Sunday school and it made him think about having children participate in beautifying the town.

Betty Shibles, a community organizer, named the project Miracle of Marigolds.

“There aren’t too many towns that have a beautiful lake in the middle of town,” Black said. Enhancing Bass Park and the space around the foot of the lake will help develop the area for people to use and enjoy just as the Bass family wanted when they donated the property for the park, he said.

Miracle of Marigolds’ purpose is to encourage the next generation to take ownership and participate in keeping the town adorned with flowers and plants, Black said. Many of those who have done the work in the past are aging and it’s time to teach the youngsters and help them develop an interest in the town, he added.

The time spent next to the lake on a beautiful day was a welcome break for students, said sixth-grade teacher Claire Vining, who was joined by teacher Michaela O’Malley.

“The students have been undergoing testing this week so to be here on this gorgeous day is a great alternative,” Vining said.

Eight Mt. Blue Middle School eighth-graders from Farmington volunteered to help Thursday, teacher Weslene Marble said, and they planted marigolds they had also grown.

Black’s crew cleared trees and poison ivy from the park beds this week and added a loam mix. By mid-July the marigolds should be full and beautiful, he said. He has another 1,000 seedlings to fill in around the students’ plants, as well as in downtown flower boxes and other sites around town.

Last year, Black and his wife, Corey, developed a planter in the middle of East Wilton. This year, he donated materials and time for Bass Park. Taking one project at a time and adding to it, keeps the goal from becoming overwhelming, he said, mentioning plans to expand plantings around town in the future.