Putting down roots for the Great American Cleanup

City employees and community members gathered at the Boy Scout Troop 88 Scout Hut across from City Hall to lay 22 pallets of sod as part of this year’s “Keep Alachua County Beautiful” campaign.

ALACHUA – The City of Alachua launched its annual “Keep Alachua County Beautiful” initiative this past weekend, joining communities across the nation as volunteers came together to spruce up local areas. The city coordinated a voluntary trash pickup in parts of town, carried out special projects to clean up and beautify areas as well as a city-wide waste tire roundup.

City mayor Gib Coerper officially proclaimed April 12 as Alachua’s “Keep Alachua County Beautiful” day. “The City of Alachua is proud to be a sponsor and participant in the annual cleanup,” Coerper said. “It is a great opportunity for people to work together to keep their community clean and make a difference locally.”

The City of Alachua Public Services Department coordinated with Waste Pro, Inc. and local volunteers to undertake this year’s cleanup on Saturday. Volunteers gathered at 8 a.m. at the Swick House located behind City Hall on the Municipal Complex site. Volunteers were assigned various locations to carry out planned projects until noon. Armed with the necessary accessories such as gloves, trash bags, safety vests, and instructions, the volunteers headed to their worksites.

Headquarters for the waste tire roundup was the city’s Paul O’Dea Advanced Water Reclamation Facility located at the southern end of NW 126 Terrace. Other locations included Welch Park at 13801 NW 142nd Ave., and property at the Boy Scout Troop 88 Scout Hut across from City Hall.

After the cleanup ended at noon, lunch was provided back at the Swick House for the volunteers.

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