By Nancy English
A list of spring clean up events totals more than nine, with neighborhood associations asking neighbors to pitch in and make the City of Portland shine. The grass and spring bulbs are already doing wonders to make us forget dreary blackened piles of snow.
The neighborhood groups and city workers are particularly aware of trash and discarded needles. It feels good to make a small difference in the parks and on the streets, to show love for areas that may be less than perfectly cared for, and to take action to make things better even if just for a short time.
Preble Street, which offers shelter for people needing housing, sponsored its own clean up on April 22nd, Earth Day, giving the streets around its administrative offices on Portland Street a thorough cleaning and feeding their volunteers afterward.
Missed these events in April? No problem. A citywide clean up sponsored by the Portland Parks Conservancy takes place on May 3rd.
The City of Portland Sustainability Office provides residents with a “kit” with gloves, grabbers, and trash bags. This can be scheduled for pick up and must be returned. The City of Portland’s Public Works Department picks up the collected trash at designated spots after the work is done.
