City of Rochester
News Release
Mayor Robert J. Duffy joined Dept. of Environmental Services Commissioner Paul Holahan and Neighborhood Service Centers Director Molly Clifford to announce the dates for “Rochester’s Clean Sweep...Showing Pride in Our City,” today at Genesee Valley Park. Beginning Mon., April 20, and throughout the coming month, the City will work alongside community volunteers in beautifying Rochester’s neighborhoods.
“This year marks Rochester’s 175th Anniversary. While neighborhood beautification has always been a priority, we take special pride in 2009 in cleaning up this great city,” Mayor Duffy said. “This is the fourth year of Clean Sweep and it keeps growing. The more than 15,000 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. 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 25, Genesee Valley Park, 131 Elmwood Ave.
• May 2, Cobbs Hill Park, corner of Culver Road and Norris Drive
• May 9, Edgerton Park, 41 Backus St.
• May 16, Norton Neighborhood Service Center, 500 Norton St.
The City is also supporting “Scout Sweep,” April 25, by providing Clean Sweep t-shirts, tools and lunch for hundreds of local Boy Scouts who will pick up litter and debris.
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. There will also be opportunities to partake in planting and beautification projects, as well as graffiti removal.
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 NSC 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.onecityconnection.org. 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.
This year’s sponsors are Canandaigua National Bank & Trust, Cricket Wireless and Stantec. City Councilmember Dana Miller is once again sponsoring a Clean Sweep “Clean and Green” poster contest for children in grades K-6.
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For more information, contact Kamahria Hopkins at 428-6678.