‘Gary All-In’ cleanup program lauded as success as initiative ends

Volunteers and city workers last week wrapped up Gary’s All-In initiative for the season at Lighthouse Upper Academy.

Rachelle Ceasar, deputy director of public works, described the city’s inaugural All-In initiative, a comprehensive permanent cleanup and sustainability strategy that launched in September on National Clean Up Day, as a success.

The difference between the All-In initiative and prior city cleanups is sustainability created through community partnerships, Ceasar said.

“The goal is to build these engagements throughout the city at the corporate and business level, and deepen engagements with block clubs and community organizations,” Ceasar said.

The goal is to get different entities to tackle the area around their business, club, neighborhood, or school and maybe spread out a block. The city will support the efforts and provide debris removal or some supplies to keep the effort going.

“If five or more people want to do a cleanup, the city commits to supporting them. We are building leverage to have everybody be part of this effort,” she said.

Ceasar said the city needs the partnerships because it does not have the resources on its own to get to every street, neighborhood or vacant lot that needs cleanup. With the help of the community, the city can work to sustain the clean up efforts on an on going basis.

One of the partners has been Lighthouse Upper Academy. Ceasar said Charity Peterson, career and community liaison for Lighthouse, reached out to see how they could participate and possibly adopt Brunswick Park, which adjoins the school property.

“We are trying to build relationships and community partners, as well as within our own walls. That’s the driving force behind all of this,” Peterson said.

The amenities at Brunswick Park including the basketball court has not been used in years. Peterson said when the partnership first started, weeds and vines snaked through the fencing and the basketball court. Today, all the weeds, branches and debris have been removed. Various classes of students worked for volunteer hours need for graduation to clean up, Peterson said.

The city supplied T-shirts, goggles and work gloves and brought a bobcat to clear out the denser weeded areas.

They then picked up the multiple bags of weeds and debris and cleared all the branches as they were being collected. The cleanup process took about two months, Peterson said.

“Our mission is to try and adopt the basketball court, to adopt it as our own,” she said.

Peterson envisions the day students can go out and play during lunch break, have after-school programs at the park, or use the basketball court for games. Maybe one day the school can even host summer camp programs.

“I don’t know, it’s just the beginning,” Peterson said.