A city-wide initiative designed to “clean up the city and build community spirit” will be held Wednesday in Oil City.
Billed as Community Clean-Up Day, the annual event is the successor to Wash Day that was launched 41 years ago by a group of volunteers.
“I encourage everyone to bring their own brooms, shovels and gloves and join us,” said Stewart Armstrong, the artist liaison and marketing coordinator for the Oil City Main Street program and Arts Oil City. “We’ll provide garbage bags and safety vests.”
“That’s our primary prerogative but if you have somewhere else you’d like to focus on, like the ballfields, parks or marina, just let us know where you’ll be so we can avoid any duplication,” she said. “And we encourage people to clean up all over town, whether it is downtown or in your neighborhood.”
To date, volunteer groups that have registered include The Pointe, Webco Industries, Oil City Vineyard Church, Venango Training and Development Center, UCIP, Oil City Rotary Club, OCCA Revolution Youth, Youth Philanthropy, State Street Furniture, Youth Alternatives, Venango VETS Club, PennDOT, Pathways, Barr’s Insurance, Venango County Democrats and the FLEX group.
The tasks include sweeping sidewalks as well as picking up litter and raking leaves from landscaped areas and public parking lots. At the conclusion of the event, city crews will sweep streets and pick up litter bags and firefighters will hose down walkways and streets.
Volunteers are asked to sign in at Town Square in the North Side business district where vests and trash bags will be distributed.
