Each year since 2008 Downtown Akron has been overrun with volunteers on the first Friday in May. Clad in bright green shirts, they put a deep clean on Downtown. The Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) is once again planning and preparing for Green & Clean Day on May 2.
In 2013, more than 350 Green & Clean volunteers picked up more than 38 bags of trash and thousands of cigarette butts; swept more than 26 blocks of sidewalk; washed 32 newspaper boxes, 38 parking meters, 52 benches, four sections of the skywalk, 12 bus shelters and much more. Additional teams spruced up their own properties by removing weeds, sweeping, picking up trash, planting flowers, mulching and cleaning store fronts. Many similar tasks are on schedule for this year’s event.
Volunteers may work the morning shift from 9 a.m. to noon, the afternoon shift from 1 to 4 p.m., or both. Each volunteer receives a T-shirt, goodie bag and lunch. Lunch time festivities take place at Lock 3 and include entertainment and door prizes.
To take part in creating a more vibrant and valuable Downtown, form a team or register as an individual, visit downtownakron.com/greenandclean or call Kelli Fetter at (330) 374-7676. The deadline for registration is April 11.
In addition, the 6th annual Green Fair will take place at Lock 3 on May 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Green Fair features environmentally friendly products and ways to make businesses and workplaces more sustainable and safe.
Green and Clean Day is organized by DAP, in partnership with the city of Akron, county of Summit and Keep Akron Beautiful. Green & Clean Day is a part of Keep Akron Beautiful Clean Up Akron Week/Great American Cleanup™.