News release from the City of Fort Wayne:
Be Part of the Solution
Join Fort Wayne’s Great American Cleanupâ„¢
(April 10, 2015) – Unsightly trash is visible throughout the City now that winter has ended and we need volunteers to help with this year’s Great American Cleanup. The City of Fort Wayne’s Solid Waste Department is looking for residents of all ages to assist with this year’s event. It’s a great opportunity for youth groups, schools, churches, civic organizations, businesses, neighborhoods, families or individuals to show their civic pride and help keep Fort Wayne Beautiful.
This year’s Great American Cleanupâ„¢ is on Saturday, May 16, 2015. Volunteers are asked to pre-register so that the City can accommodate them with event tee-shirts, gloves, and trash bags.
Individuals, families and groups can register at: https://www.cityoffortwayne.org/great-american-clean-up.html or by calling 311, no later than Monday, April 27.
Groups can pick an area or the City can assign them to one of the many locations identified. Once the group has an assignment they usually begin the clean-up process between 8 and 9 AM on May 16.
A celebration post-clean-up party will take place at Headwaters Park West from 11:30am to 2pm. There will be food, drinks, games and prizes for volunteers.
Last year, a record 5,250 volunteers collected more than 183,000 pounds of litter and debris from Fort Wayne’s neighborhoods, parks, roadways, trails and riverbanks. Participants cleaned 71 miles of roadways, 33 miles of trails and 17 miles of riverbank during the 2014 event.
The Great American Cleanupâ„¢ is the country’s largest beautification and community improvement effort. Nationwide, there were more than four million volunteers last year. Fort Wayne’s clean-up efforts focus on neighborhoods, vacant lots, trails and greenways, graffiti removal, streets and roads, and our rivers. The event provides a great opportunity for neighborhood associations, church groups, service organizations, youth groups, schools, and all residents to make a difference in their community.