Help make a difference by joining the #CleanStreetsMatter Community-wide Cleanup on Saturday, March 4. This will be the fifth Community-wide Cleanup hosted by Macon-Bibb County and Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful (KMBB) since the start of the Clean Streets Matter initiative in 2021. This cleanup expands on the original efforts so illegal road signs can be removed, main thoroughfares can be cleaned, and specific areas will be cleaned.
“The more people see us come together to clean our streets, the more they will organize their own cleanups throughout the year, and the more we can do in other areas,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “Clean streets matter because Macon matters.”
Mayor Miller, since taking office, has had crews from different departments removed signs illegally placed along Macon-Bibb’s roads and from its intersections. He is inviting people who would like to help beautify the roads to meet him with their trucks Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Macon Mall (by the former JC Penney on the Mercer University Drive side) to collect signs from the right of way. All signs will be taken to the Public Works Department at 4520 Knight Road.
For neighborhood cleanups, people are encouraged to sign up with KMBB. You can sign up for your neighborhood cleanup by emailing information@KMBBC.org. People are still encouraged to clean up their neighborhoods even if they do not cleanup.
“Since we launched Clean Streets Matter and came together for four of these big days, our community has really stepped up to the plate and held their own regular cleanups throughout the year, and I am so proud of that,” says Mayor Miller.
To clean major roads and intersections, the Parks & Beautification Department, Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, and the Georgia Department of Transportation have worked this week along the roads listed below.
In addition to the above cleanups, KMBB and departments identified four areas around recreation centers that would be served well by a focused cleanup. Those include Rosa Jackson Center, Frank Johnson Recreation Center, Memorial Gym, and the Elaine H. Lucas Senior Center in Carolyn Crayton Park.
“We wanted to focus on neighborhoods around our recreation centers since that’s where many of our children and families gather for a variety of events,” says KMBB Executive Director Asha Ellen. “If we can focus on one spot and work outwards, we hope others will keep that momentum going in the area.”
The first Community-wide Cleanup was held in April 2021, and since then, hundreds of people have participated, removing tons of litter and debris from our neighborhoods.
“We have definitely had an increase in local organizations, schools, and other groups volunteering to host cleanups,” said Asha. “We are also working to prevent littering by presenting to students about the importance of keeping our community clean.”