Pam O'Leary cleans up the roadside on Old Keene Mill Road on a regular basis. She was glad to hear about the expansion of the Springfield Cleanup Day to include neighborhoods as well on Saturday, April 17.
"I'm so tired of seeing how trashy it is," O'Leary said. "I just do this as a citizen."
The annual Springfield Cleanup Day is going from a Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event with 10 to 15 people cleaning up the business district and assigned streets, to include civic associations and neighborhood groups concentrating on their areas as well. The name has been expanded also, to "Spruce Up Springfield." Lake Accotink Park manager Tawny Hammond contacted people in the surrounding area, and it grew from there. Hammond is hoping the number of people involved doubles.
"It would make sense if we joined forces and coordinated our efforts," Hammond said. "It's getting the citizens involved in the solutions."
Nancy-jo Manney, Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce executive director, is looking at a bigger picture this year. Many of the Chamber members clean up their own adopted areas of the roads at this annual event.
"We're all doing it on the same day, and we'll cover more areas," Manney said.
Linda Waller, administrator in Supervisor Dana Kauffman's (D-Lee) office, is involved as well. She is promoting the cleanup with door hangers.
"The Chamber focuses on the commercial areas, and this focuses on residential areas," Waller said.
DURING THE cleanup, two Dumpsters — one at Crestwood Elementary School and one behind Kmart in Springfield Plaza — will be available for dumping large trash items. These Dumpsters will be available for dumping only on April 17.
"They shouldn't bring their items until the day of cleanup," said Julie Tahan, an employee at Lake Accotink Park. "This is their chance to actively address what they see."
A previous community-oriented cleanup was scheduled in October 2002 but was postponed due to the sniper shootings. Hammond hopes more people will come out with this expanded effort. She encourages volunteers.
"They should have in mind a pocket they want to concentrate on. We're hoping our efforts are increased, more than double," Hammond said.
Orange trash bags are being donated by Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and Springfield Shell/Texaco is donating bottled water.