Volunteers plant sedums outside Butler City Building
Rob Ekas pours soil into a hole for a new tree to be planted at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
The Butler City Building will look even more “beautiful in the extreme” after its front lawn got a makeover Saturday, June 20.
Volunteers from Butler’s Shade Tree Commission and the Justin Wagner for Congress campaign spent their Saturday morning replacing the grass in the front yard of the city building with sedum, a succulent that changes colors with the seasons.
The volunteers also laid mulch, stone in wavy patterns through the garden, potted arborvitae trees on the porch and trimmed the two large oak trees in the front yard. The city building’s sign will also get replaced.
Donna Smith lays out tarp for mulch at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
“We want to make it very low maintenance,” said Donna Smith, the chairwoman of the Shade Tree Commission.
She said the two groups of volunteers had been planning the beautification for about a month since the grass that was there didn’t get enough sunlight under the two oak trees.
The group also installed 4x4 beams in the front yard, which primarily serve to protect the garden and widen the sidewalk.
Connor Platt moves 4-by-4s to hold mulch in place at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Nikki Ekas said the project would help the Justin Wagner campaign leave its mark whether he wins or loses in the November election.
“Justin’s really into giving back, outreach and being in the community,” she said.
Volunteers and members of the Butler Shade Tree Commission work to redo the yard in front of Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kathy Kline helps lay out stones as part of the Butler Shade Tree Commission's work to redo the yard in front of Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Connor Platt helps lay out tarp for mulch at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Connor Platt shovels stones into a wheelbarrow to lay out in the yard at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Rob Ekas checks the dimensions of a hole for a new tree to be planted at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Volunteers and members of the Butler Shade Tree Commission work to redo the yard in front of Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Connor Platt and Donna Smith lay out tarp for mulch at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Volunteers and members of the Butler Shade Tree Commission work to redo the yard in front of Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Connor Platt and Donna Smith lay out tarp for mulch at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Donna Smith pours out fresh mulch at Butler City Hallas part of the Butler Shade Tree Commission's effort to redo the yard, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Connor Platt helps lay out tarp for mulch at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kathy Kline helps move trimmed branches as part of the Butler Shade Tree Commission's work to redo the yard in front of Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Connor Platt and Jim Smith lay out tarps for mulch at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
John Chovanes shovels fresh mulch into a wheelbarrow to lay out at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Jim Smith nails two-by-fours into place to keep mulch and stones in the yard in front of Butler City Hall as part of the Butler Shade Tree Commission's effort to redo the yard, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Connor Platt and Jim Smith place down two-by-fours to hold mulch and stones in place at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Volunteers and members of the Butler Shade Tree Commission work to redo the yard in front of Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kathy Kline helps lay out stones as part of the Butler Shade Tree Commission's work to redo the yard in front of Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Connor Platt helps lay out tarp for mulch at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Connor Platt shovels stones into a wheelbarrow to lay out in the yard at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Rob Ekas checks the dimensions of a hole for a new tree to be planted at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Volunteers and members of the Butler Shade Tree Commission work to redo the yard in front of Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Connor Platt and Donna Smith lay out tarp for mulch at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Volunteers and members of the Butler Shade Tree Commission work to redo the yard in front of Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Connor Platt and Donna Smith lay out tarp for mulch at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Donna Smith pours out fresh mulch at Butler City Hallas part of the Butler Shade Tree Commission's effort to redo the yard, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Connor Platt helps lay out tarp for mulch at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kathy Kline helps move trimmed branches as part of the Butler Shade Tree Commission's work to redo the yard in front of Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Connor Platt and Jim Smith lay out tarps for mulch at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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John Chovanes shovels fresh mulch into a wheelbarrow to lay out at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Jim Smith nails two-by-fours into place to keep mulch and stones in the yard in front of Butler City Hall as part of the Butler Shade Tree Commission's effort to redo the yard, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Connor Platt and Jim Smith place down two-by-fours to hold mulch and stones in place at Butler City Hall, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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