Volunteers clean up a flower bed during Westfield’s 2016 Earth Day clean-up. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
WESTFIELD–Mayor Brian Sullivan is inviting residents to help out cleaning the city during the fifth annual Earth Day clean-up event on April 22.
The event is set to begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, with people gathering at the Masonic Lodge on Broad Street. The cleaning will cover a variety of areas in the city and will also provide participants with both breakfast and lunch. It is expected to last until noon, with participants meeting back at the lodge by 1 p.m.
According to Sullivan, among the areas that will be focused on for clean-up are some of the city’s parks, parts of downtown, the Lloyds Hill Road area, Twiss Street area, Servistar Industrial Way and portions of Route 20.
“This is our fifth year for this community event and we hope to have a bigger turnout than last year,” Sullivan said in a press release. “It’s a satisfying day knowing you have helped to clean up your community.”
Participants will be divided into groups to tackle the many areas throughout the city, and the event will happen regardless of weather. Participants will also be provided with gloves, bags and safety vests.
During last year’s clean-up efforts, Sullivan said that about 250 bags of trash were filled. In addition, dozens of tires and television sets were found and properly disposed of, as well as other large debris.
The Monday after the event, the Westfield Department of Public Works will finish the efforts by gathering the bags and debris and properly disposing of it at the appropriate facilities.
To sign up, you can call Karen Leigh of the city’s Conservation Commission, at (413)572-6281 for more information.
