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8/16/2012 - West Side Leader
     

By Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Keep Akron Beautiful

AKRON — A trailer full of lawn care equipment and outdoor cleaning supplies is hitting the streets for volunteers to use to beautify vacant lots in their neighborhoods.

The Community Pride Trailer, a program of Keep Akron Beautiful (KAB), is available to be parked free of charge through Oct. 29. The trailer may be borrowed for a maximum of three days, must be used in Akron, and each event must have a project coordinator, according to program officials.

The Community Pride Trailer was made possible in 2011 by grants from the Dominion Foundation and Charter One Bank, according to KAB. This program is KAB’s attempt at spreading urban beautification by reviving vacant land so abandoned lots become safe, appealing spaces where community gardens, playgrounds and/or gathering green spaces can be developed by neighbors.

The trailer comes equipped with lawnmowers, a hedge trimmer, wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, litter grabbers, grass seed, water hoses and more. KAB staff transports the trailer and works with a designated project coordinator at each job site.

Since April, 11 groups have taken advantage of the trailer, according to KAB officials. Those groups, made up of 245 volunteers, logged approximately 1,099 volunteer hours as they collected 70 bags of litter, planted 64 trees and 155 flowers and bulbs and eradicated graffiti.

A recent community organization to use the Community Pride Trailer was Trinity United Church of Christ. Fifteen volunteers not only cleaned up their site, but also created a composting area and expanded their community garden, shown above. Project Coordinator David Brown said the vegetables in the garden will provide food for the community and will be shared with the International Institute of Akron Inc. in North Akron.

Groups need a minimum of five participants or households to commit to a project to use the trailer. To learn about the full requirements, safety commitments and trailer equipment list and to book the trailer, go to www.keepakronbeautiful.org or call 330-375-2116.

     

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