JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More than 100 volunteers spent Saturday morning cleaning up a historic park on Jacksonville’s Northside.
Wearing bright green T-shirts and holding large blue trash bags, the message was clear — put trash in the can and not on our land.
Dozens of volunteers spent a few hours picking up trash and litter around Clanzel Brown Park on Moncrief Road.
“I really just enjoy participating in events like this, like unity, cleanup, and stuff just to help out the community,” RoMel Hardy said.
Three brothers were among the volunteers who wanted to lend a hand.
“I like helping the community and I think a lot more can be cleaned,” Cedric Hardy said. “We just need a cleaner environment.”
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This was the second year of the neighborhood cleanup and the turnout this year significantly improved, a vision Jessie Bush had that she hopes brings pride to this area.
“Stop throwing trash out of your windows. Stop throwing trash on the street,” Bush said. “Let’s keep our neighborhoods clean. It brings down the property value and everything.”
From paper to cans and even tires, the volunteers stretched their reach beyond the park, even cleaning up and down several streets as far as a quarter mile away.
City Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman, who represents the area, said she wants this historic park to become a regional park. She said keeping it looking nice along with nearby areas should be a given.
“When you see the environment, when we are putting in new trees and we are adding assets to a park like Clanzel Brown, it inspires other people to do the same thing in their neighborhoods,” Pittman said.
And volunteers agreed — that’s the goal.