Downtown Chattanooga will be given a “spring cleaning” on Saturday, by individuals, businesses and civic groups alike at the fourth annual Clean and Green. Clean and Green, a River City Company program, provides an opportunity for community members to improve the livability and cleanliness of downtown districts and surrounding neighborhoods.
This year’s cleanup is sponsored by Volkswagen Chattanooga as well as the Downtown Chattanooga Rotary and Rotaract Clubs. Its growing list of partners include Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, causeway, SERVPRO of Chattanooga, Orange Grove Center, Custom Werks Graphics and the City of Chattanooga.
“We are working closely with many community partners and taking a new focus on recycling to make this the biggest Clean and Green yet,” said Paige Southard, program coordinator at River City Company. “Our hope is that through this event, volunteers will feel a sense of ownership in their community by taking part in its livelihood.”
With check-in starting at 8 a.m., volunteer teams will meet in Miller Plaza at 850 Market Street where they will receive their supplies and designated clean-up area as well as complimentary breakfast and volunteer giveaways.
“Clean and Green is a great event to channel some city pride and provide an excellent team-building opportunity,” said Bo Bentley, team leader for the University of Tennessee Alumni Network Chattanooga Region team last year. “I still drive by a wall I removed graffiti off of last year, and I am proud to have helped my city in a small way.”
In the past four years, Clean and Green has produced the following results:
• 4,500 bags of trash collected
• 100 buildings and monuments cleansed of graffiti
• 55 city blocks and multiple neighborhoods cleaned six times
• 70 businesses and civic groups volunteered, totaling 2,400 individual volunteers
In addition, downtown greenery has been added and problems with city infrastructure like vandalism, potholes and damaged bus stops have been reported.
With a goal of 1,000 volunteers for this year’s event, River City Company is asking all Chattanoogans to roll up their sleeves and join the cause.
To sign up for Clean and Green, visit causeway.org/cleanandgreen.