By Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland County's 11th annual Mayors' Keep the County Clean Challenge is back, with area municipalities encouraging all residents to join in this spring spruce-up starting on Earth Day—Monday, April 22.
This actually kicks off a week of activities, offering organized and independent opportunities for people to engage and help clean up their neighbourhoods.
The Challenge concludes on Saturday, April 27, when the entire community is invited to a celebratory appreciation barbecue at the recycling plant in Grafton.
In the county's press release, Warden John Logel called Earth Day “a reminder of our shared responsibility to nurture and protect the world around us, and the Keep the County Clean Challenge is an opportunity to take action in support of a healthier Earth.”
Logel added that significant community support for this event continues strong, with well over 15,000 people having registered over the past decade to help beautify roadways, parks and other public areas.
“I encourage everyone to participate in the 2019 challenge, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the open house and barbecue at the recycling plant to close out the week,” Logel said.
The Challenge itself consists of two activities.
The week-long Litter Clean-up invites individuals and groups to demonstrate community spirit by registering with their municipality to clean up a public area – a park, nature trail, roadside - between April 22 and 27.
The 20 Minute Makeover on Friday, April 26, encourages individuals to spend a few minutes beautifying an area in their own neighbourhoods – a place of work, local park or trail, a school yard. No registration is required for this one. Just grab a bag and some gloves, and head outdoors.
The free appreciation barbecue the county is hosting to close out the week takes place April 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Material Recovery Facility north of Grafton on Edwardson Road. This event is a family-friendly opportunity to take a guided tour of the facility, have the kids explore large vehicles and enjoy the door prizes and other activities (no registration required).
For more information, visit Northumberland.ca/LitterCleanup.
