Cleaning up the Neighborhood -- any thoughts?

[Katherine Brengle]

I was cleaning my yard a couple of days ago (I live in an apartment building, and no one ever cleans outside--the trash piles up and there is always litter on the lawn), and I had an idea--

I live in a neighborhood full of three-floor apartments. In the four or five blocks that make up my little corner of the neighborhood, there are probably one or two hundred people, including a lot of children, living right here in a few city blocks.

I was thinking about trying to put together a group to keep the neighborhood clean. We don't live in a wealthy area, and I know that people are busy and trying to get by, but I think we owe it to our kids to give them a nicer place to live and play.

So, I want to start a neighborhood clean-up association--I will pledge to supply the trash bags and work gloves if others in the neighborhood will pledge an hour or so a week to help clean up our streets and help some of the older folks keep their yards clean.

What do you think? I was thinking that to cap it all off, maybe once every 2 weeks or so we could have like a block party in the evening, when the weather is nice, and have tiki torches and all the kids could come out and play and we could give them sidewalk chalk and everyone could get to know their neighbors--so we know who is around when our kids are walking to school and playing outside. Plus it would be fun. I know musicians and other things, so I could definitely set up some entertainment and it would be a really good way for the neighborhood to open up a little.

Anyway, any thoughts?

[Inland]

1. I'd like to help, but I'm just so busy right now. nt

[Katherine Brengle]

2. Yeah, I expect to hear that one a bit --

but I think I can get at least 5 or so, and maybe some of the older kids when they are off from school during the summer.

I am going to go ahead with it, and hope for the best--maybe I can get an LTTE in our paper, or an interview or something...

[Inland]

4. Seriously....

The thing about trash is, many people don't litter a clean street, so you don't have to pick up as much as the total you see today.

Why not contact the landlords and ask them to put up a few bucks for water, snacks, flyers? It's their property. Call your alderman for ideas. Call them to call the landlords. That's what they are there for.

[Vincardog]

3. Just start AND DO IT. Don;t worry about getting anyone else

just pick a spot and clean it up. When interested people come by let them know your plan. If they want to help they will join in. On the other hand you might get the kids involved. Give them gloves and bags and pay them so much a bag to fill them up with trash. Maybe have a contest for the cleanest block.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Give it a shot.

I'd suggest starting with a clean-up day and cookout at the end of it.

on edit: don't ask for a commitment. Just make it easy for people to join you and those who feel a commitment will keep coming back.

[im10ashus]

6. I think it is a wonderful idea.

When I was growing up, we started a neighborhood clean-up. We normally did that twice a year, but it soon expanded to once every three months. I just spoke with an old friend from the neighborhood this past weekend, and they still do it, though not nearly as often. It always saddened me how people could have no appreciation for their surroundings. Good luck to you! It's a wonderful way to contribute to society.

:-)

:kick:

[specimenfred1984]

7. Our Neighborhood Does it Once a Month

on Saturdays at 9am-12 noon, that way it doesn't eat up the whole day or take a big commitment. We put a sign up were everyone entering the neighborhood can see it one week before the cleanup.

[mondo joe]

8. My suggestions would be to

a. draft a description of responsibilities for people in the clean up association - conflicts of unspoken expectations are always a problem when at least the minimum is not commonly understood and agreed upon.

b. I think every 2 weeks might be too often. My neighborhood has done those things before and they actually do take up time and energy.

[radwriter0555]

9. It's a great idea.. but even just tending your own yard makes a HUGE

difference. Others notice, take note and it slowly starts. One yard at a time, one window box at a time. Pretty things creep in.

It's hard to rally people together. You have to start it in your own yard. Don't try too hard to wrangle people in.. Let them come to you. People don't want to be told what to do, they want to think they thought of it on their own.

It's a great idea, work it slowly though.

Perhaps you can offer yourself to help someone, one on one.

[displacedtexan]

10. Remind the neighbors...

... that colleges and scholarship orgs look for community involvement when
selecting students.

[FSogol]

11. Great idea. Two suggestions

1. Try contacting a local scout troop (Boy or Girl). These groups are usually looking for service projects.

2. Just put up signs, announcing when and where the clean up will occur. Ask people to bring gloves and trash bags. (Buy a box of bags yourself so you don't run out). You will only get a few people, but as people see you cleaning, more will show up. Make some lemonade afterwords. I did this in my old neighborhood and it was bigger each time we did it. People who weren't able to help (seniors) provided snacks and drinks when we finished.

Let us know how it turns out.