Philly's getting a facelift this summer, and it's taking the whole community to pull it off. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, alongside various city departments, is set to launch the One Philly, United Citywide Cleaning and Greening Program on June 3, aiming to scrub the city clean over a 13-week blitz, the Mayor's office announced. More than just dealing with the daily detritus, the initiative is looking to tackle longstanding eyesores from graffiti to abandoned autos and overgrown vacant lots.
The program kicks off throughout the summer season, from June 3 through August 26. Mayor Parker will be on the front lines with Clean and Green Director Carlton Williams on June 5 to showcase the initiative to the media, saying, “Our Clean and Green Initiative, under Director Carlton Williams, is central to what we want to achieve for our residents." Parker's administration is pushing for a safer, spotless, and sustainable Philly, and she's putting her money where her mouth is by dedicating crews to all 10 Councilmanic Districts post-cleanup, according to the city's announcement.
To make sure Philadelphia's blocks shine, the city's roping in the whole nine yards. No less than a dozen government entities are banding together, including everyone from the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives to the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and even SEPTA. Each neighborhood gets a special cleaning schedule tied to trash collection days, ensuring maximum tidiness. Post-pickup, teams will swoop in with everything from brooms to blowers to banish the leftover litter.
But this isn't just a hit-and-run cleanup; Philly's residents will be kept in the loop with notifications, reminders, and a call to arms to keep their blocks impeccable. Notices will inform locals of when the Sanitation Department has swept through, and "Join the Fight" calls for volunteers will be spread via brochures and online pushes, the Mayor's office states. Follow-up is key, with SWEEP Officers patrolling after collection days to ticket trash traitors and inform citizens on nuisance prevention.
