Go Green and Clean Results

Pierre is now clear of thousands of pounds of debris and trash.

That's thanks to the volunteers who participated in this year's Go Green and Clean campaign. Together, approximately 130 volunteers cleared about 6,000 pounds of garbage and yard waste from public spaces in the city.

'Wow! I'm just so thankful for and proud of the volunteers we have here in Pierre,' said Pierre Mayor Steve Harding. 'Go Green and Clean has been going strong for almost ten years, and that's all because of our great volunteers.'

The Go Green and Clean campaign is a civic pride effort designed to get the city spruced up for the summer season. Each year, the city recruits volunteers and volunteer groups to paint public facilities, clean up flower beds, clear litter and otherwise help Pierre look its best.

'Many of the volunteers that came forth this year included young people,' said Tom Farnsworth, Parks and Recreation Director. 'It's really encouraging to see the kids and teens in our community taking an interest in keeping Pierre clean.'

Farnsworth serves as the volunteer coordinator for the effort. He matches volunteers with projects. This year's clean-up effort started the end of April and wrapped up in mid-May. It included litter control along Capital Creek, Lake Sharpe clean-up, rehabilitation of the flower beds at both Steamboat and Griffin Parks, as well as park shelter painting.

The city provides volunteers with gloves and trash bags. Collected trash and debris is deposited at the city's solid waste facility. Staff there weigh the materials and then dispose of it. Since the Go Green and Clean campaign started in 2013, more than 50 tons of trash and debris have been collected and removed from Pierre.