Columbus will get some early spring cleaning done this weekend.
Link”d Young Professionals is teaming with Columbus and Lowndes County officials to organize Saturday”s Clean Sweep, a litter pick-up, trash disposal, paint touch-up, volunteer event.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the Hitching Lot Farmers” Market at 9 a.m. Saturday to divide into teams which will be dispatched to their respective wards.
The Link”s Shasta Nance says more than 400 volunteers turned out for last year”s event, which focused largely on the downtown area just prior to the Columbus Pilgrimage. But the Sweep has been extended city-wide this year and Nance isn”t sure if a similar turnout will cover the extra area.
“I sure hope so. I hope to see them Saturday,” she says.
Groups of volunteers will hit every ward to pick up trash, paint fire hydrants and signs, dispose of large abandoned items like refrigerators or tires, and spread mulch.
City Council members will all be involved in their respective wards” cleanup.
Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor is hoping to eliminate discarded tires, and debris from his entire ward.
Ward 4 Councilman Fred Stewart hopes to clean up around the former Hughes Elementary School building, 20th Street, 26th Street, 6th Avenue and 14th Avenue.
Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem wants to focus on Military Road, the Eveningside complex and the main thoroughfares of Ward 5.
Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin wants to clean up Highway 45 North, Bluecutt Road and paint as many fire hydrants and signs as possible.
“My hat”s off to the Link”d Young Professionals for coming up with this idea and getting elected officials involved in it,” said Mayor Robert Smith.
Anyone wishing to volunteer for the Clean Sweep need only show up at the Farmer”s Market at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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