$500K litter, graffiti clean-up effort starts Monday in these Tacoma business districts – KIRO 7 News Seattle

TACOMA, Washington – More than a dozen areas in Tacoma will be facelifted over the next several months as part of a new city project.

The project, called “Tidy-Up Tacoma”, will be removing trash and debris, scrubbing graffiti, sweeping streets and countryside in another business district about once a week from September 13 to November 16.

The city saw an increase in trash and graffiti during the COVID-19 pandemic when work programs were suspended to prevent the virus from spreading and the city was forced to temporarily cut funding for some of its cleanup programs.

“For the past year and a half, the effects of COVID-19 have extended well beyond public health. Tacoma companies and the workers they employ have been hit hard by this pandemic, “said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards. “When visitors return to the business districts, the city wants to ensure that shoppers, diners, and diners find an environment that reflects the pride and care that every Tacoma store has sustained through COVID-19.”

With $ 500,000 donated by the city council through the American Rescue Plan Act, city workers will concentrate their cleaning efforts in 13 business districts over the following days:

• Dome Business District (Sept. 13)
• McKinley Hill (September 23)
• Lincoln (September 28)
• Portland Avenue (Oct. 1)
• Pacific Avenue (Oct 6)
• South Tacoma (Oct 18)
• Oakland Madrona (October 21)
• Fern Hill (Oct. 27)
• 6th Avenue (October 29)
• Tacoma Narrows (November 2nd)
• Ruston Point Defiance (November 4th)
• Proctor (November 8th)
• Old Town (November 12)

On November 16, vegetation management, garbage disposal and graffiti removal will also take place around the city’s six gate signs:

• Northeast 45th Avenue and Northshore Parkway
• East 72nd Street and East F Street
• South Center Street east of State Route 16
• South 19th Street and South Jackson Avenue
• South Sprague Avenue near 21st Street
• South 56th and South Orchard Streets

The staff encourages residents to get involved in community cleanups organized by neighborhood business district leaders and the Litter Free 253 volunteer group. gmail.com.

People unable to attend an organized event are encouraged to self-clean up every day this fall by collecting rubbish on their streets, in their neighborhoods, and in parks.

Visit cityoftacoma.org/tidyup for more information.

This story was originally published by The News Tribune.

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