By Saturday morning, the sun melted enough of Friday’s snow to ensure Western Springs’ 30th annual NEAT Cleanup Day volunteers were able to do their jobs – cleaning up the community.
The Neighborhood Environmental Appearance Team event, is one of two spring cleanups held each year. The effort brings community organizations together with the goal of clearing debris from Western Springs’ public areas, green spaces and parks.
Among the participants were Boy Scouts, Indian Guides and Princesses, Western Springs Little League, the Rotary Club and Daisy troops. The volunteers ventured out early with gloves, rakes and brooms to clean up their designated areas.
For some, the project was a family affair. Bev and Andy Fleming, and their son Drew, were part volunteers with Boy Scout Troop 12 assigned to clean the south side of the tracks north of Spring Rock Park to Grand Avenue. Senior Patrol Leader Drew Fleming was responsible for recruiting the troop’s volunteers for this year’s cleanup project.
“I sent out emails to parents and scouts,” said Fleming.
He was also responsible for signing the Scouts in and out to make sure the volunteers received credit for their hard work.
“Scouts get service hours toward rank advancement in addition to helping out the community,” he said..
By mid-morning, the patrol had already filled brown yard waste bags and garbage bags, and had piled up several bundles of sticks. Bev Fleming noted there wasn’t much garbage this year, but there seemed to be more “large twigs and sticks” than usual, presumably from the storms that have blown through the area. Filled bags were placed alongside the road for the village to pick up later in the day.
Volunteers began their morning at the Western Springs Recreation Center where they signed in and picked up bundles of yard waste bags and garbage bags provided by the village. Participants were also treated to snacks provided by the organizers, The Western Springs Garden Club.
Garden Club member Linda Derr and her daughter Sarah Derr were manning the check-in table as representatives from each group arrived, but their contribution went largely toward planning.
“We sent out press releases, put it on the calendar, and organized the groups,” said Sarah Derr, who said the volunteers’ time fulfills service hours for the Little League as well as for other organizations.
By the end of the day, the Derrs expected up to 200 people would have contributed to the successful cleanup of the village’s 11 parks and many public areas.
This year, Springdale Park was assigned to the Indian Princesses Cheyenne tribe. Organizer Kevin McGann said they had 12 volunteers show up to clean up the debris that accumulated on both on the playground and the fields. They picked up candy wrappers, bottles and did the hard work of digging out the many oak leaves that “don’t disintegrate over the winter.”
“Self-respect is self-preservation,” said McGann. “We have to lead by example. People notice how clean it is when they come to the area.”
Despite the cold temperatures, the Cheyenne Princesses’ work didn’t stop at Springdale Park. The group planned to continue on to Bemis Woods to do some more cleanup.
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“With us respecting Native American history, we want the girls to see how the area looked three or four centuries ago, to see why it’s important to keep that area clean as well,” McGann said.
Boy Scout Troop 3 parent Natalie Carlson leveraged her family’s time cleaning up a stretch of 55th Street to teach her kids about some bad habits – smoking and littering. Carlson said her kids were disturbed by the estimated 200 cigarette butts her family picked up.
“We had a long discussion about why people smoke, and why they throw the butts out the window,” she said.
Residents will have another opportunity to clean up next month during the annual Household Cleanup Day, often referred to as Garbage Night. Homeowners will be able to dispose of a variety of items including household goods, trash and unwanted personal property. Items intended for removal can be set out after 6 p.m. May 20 and no later than 6 a.m. May 21 for pickup by Republic Services. Information can be found at www.wsprings.com.
Paulette Delcourt is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.