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Mayor Robert J. Duffy joined Dept. of Environmental Services Commissioner Paul Holahan and Neighborhood Empowerment Teams Director Molly Clifford to announce the dates for “Rochester’s Clean Sweep...Showing Pride in Our City,” today at Cobbs Hill Park. Beginning Mon., April 21, the City will work alongside community volunteers beautifying Rochester’s neighborhoods during six-weeks of neighborhood spring cleanup activities.
“This year, we are going after litter and illegal graffiti, incorporating our Rochester Blossoms planting day, supporting more than 400 local Boy Scouts and announcing a citywide e-recycling day,” said the Mayor. “This is the third year of Clean Sweep and it keeps growing. The more than 10,000 volunteers and the many organizations that have supported Clean Sweep realize how keeping our city clean and beautiful benefits our community’s public safety, education and economic development.”
Groups and individuals can join the Mayor for one or more Saturday Sweeps, where volunteers receive a Clean Sweep t-shirt, have coffee and donuts, get assigned to a team, pick up their tools and then head out to beautify the streets. Graffiti removal kits will be available this year. At noon, they’ll meet up again for a picnic lunch. The City’s show wagon stage and a large tent are set up and music plays throughout the morning, making for a fun and festive scene. The Saturday Sweeps will take place rain or shine, 9 a.m. -- 12 noon:
• April 26, Genesee Valley Park, 131 Elmwood Ave.
• May 10, Cobbs Hill Park, corner of Culver Rd. & Norris Dr.
• May 17 Norton NET, 500 Norton St.
• May 31 Edgerton Park, 41 Backus St.
The City is also supporting “Scout Sweep,” April 26, by providing Clean Sweep t-shirts, tools and lunch for hundreds of local Boy Scouts who will pick up litter and debris along the Genesee Riverway Trail and Erie Canal. In addition, Rochester Blossoms will join Clean Sweep on May 31, when Green thumbs will fan out across the city to plant thousands of flowers in public spaces. “Flower Sweep” can accommodate about 300 volunteers. Gardeners must preregister and will begin their day at 8 a.m. at the City Parks Administration building, 400 Dewey Ave. A morning snack, flowers, maps and planting advice will be provided.
Participants are asked to bring their own garden gloves, trowels, shovels and rakes. Rochester Blossoms will also provide around 100 perennials for each of the other Saturday Sweeps.
A city computer and electronic recycling day also takes place during Clean Sweep. Residents and small businesses can drop off computer and electronic equipment, 9 a.m. -- 2 p.m., Sat., May 31 at the Frontier Field VIP parking lot on Morrie Silver Way. Call 458-2460 for more information.
During Clean Sweep, city crews come out in force to sweep streets; pick up bulk refuse; cut grass and clean up city properties, alleys and underpasses; repair potholes; survey street signs and street lights for repair and replacement; and repair hazardous sidewalks.
City residents and businesses are encouraged to do their spring cleaning during Clean Sweep by raking their yards and tree lawn areas, sweeping their sidewalk and curb areas and taking litter and rakings to the curb for collection. Citizens are asked to call 311 to report graffiti on utilities or buildings, broken street lights and hazardous sidewalks. City residents can take advantage of the opportunity to get rid of large bulk refuse items.
Groups who would like to organize their own street or block projects to collect litter, rake tree lawns or perform a special clean up or beautification project can call their local NET office. The City will provide suggested projects, tools and bags, mulch, soil and/or flowers for planting as supplies last.
Volunteers may register by calling 311 or visiting www.cityofrochester.gov. Walk-ups on the morning of the Sweeps are also welcome. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and teams will hit the streets at 9 a.m. Volunteers are asked to wear appropriate clothing, including hard-soled shoes and long pants. Gloves and tools will be provided, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own, if possible.
RG&E has provided title sponsorship for the spring Clean Sweep event. Stantec, Cricket Wireless, and UNICON have committed to supporting sponsorships for program expenses. City Councilmember Dana Miller is once again sponsoring a Clean Sweep coloring contest for children in grades K-6.
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