The symbolism of the moment and the task ahead of him is not lost on Earl Gary.
"I’ve been doing landscaping for a long time, but I don’t think I had too many jobs where I had to plant 6,000 plants," Gary said. But Gary wanted to start his own firm due to the uphill climb of finding job opportunities and receiving promotions. "I got to see that lineage, and I’m like, ‘Well, I’m gonna take what I saw and maybe try to transfer it a little bit differently in this generation,’" he said."Instead of me being that only minority in that function, maybe I can create a minority function."
Gary eventually got his own firm, founding Fulcrum Engineering Solutions more than six years ago. The company’s civil engineers prepare sites for construction and development. As YME begins the early stages of working on the landscaping plan, Gary hopes the work will be completed by mid- to late July.Second District City Council member Katherine Jordan said the fencing and barriers surrounding the former Lee Circle will not be removed until the project is completed to ensure staff safety.