PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philly’s annual Spring Cleanup returns on Saturday, April 6 — a citywide effort to clean Philly’s green spaces and neighborhoods that often brings out hundreds of volunteers.
Mayor Cherelle Parker has ambitious goals for this year’s cleanup, and city officials gathered in Fairmount Park to announce them a month out from the big day.
Parker rode to office on the back of a message to make Philadelphia “cleaner, greener and safer,” and her administration has made the annual Spring Cleanup a keystone event of turning that message into action.
“This year, the goal for the cleanup is to incorporate beautification projects like planting trees, removing graffiti, creating green projects, renovating parks and recreation centers,” said Managing Director Adam Thiel. “These are all key strategies in making a noticeable difference in building healthy and sustainable communities.”
Thiel said there are also some ambitious goals, like engaging 5,000 volunteers, completing 1,000 projects and removing 100,000 pounds of trash.
“This is the largest city-led effort of its kind. Every neighborhood has the opportunity to partner with us and be part of the citywide cleanup,” he said.
“A litter-free Philadelphia starts with one vision, one person, one cleanup, one block, one neighborhood, one community, one department, and one city.”
City Commerce Director Alba Martinez also drew the line between a cleaner Philly and its economic prosperity, saying the cleanup will boost business.
“We see the connection between cleaning, greening, safety and wealth-building,” she said, “and that’s what is going to represent our success in the Philadelphia of the future — economic opportunity for all.”