TAKING IT TO THE STREETS

Community effort helps clean up city’s litter

The streets of Elyria are expected to be a lot cleaner after a community cleanup day on April 17.

From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Elyrians gathered throughout the city to clean up garbage that had collected around the city from the winter.

In efforts to beautify the area and fifth ward, Councilwoman Diane Simmons headed to the streets to clean the area.

“I heard about this on Facebook and I knew people were going to be cleaning around the city and I wanted to participate in my ward,” she said.

As she walked across a littered lot, Simmons used a trash claw grabber to toss our bottles, wrappers, shopping bags, cigarette butts and other litter.

“If we take care of our area it’s healthier for the environment and for us. The city was in need of a cleanup and I’m glad a bunch of people are working together today throughout the city,” she said.

During her cleanup, Simmons and her team cleaned The Boys and Girls Club in Elyria. According to volunteer and Oberlin

“If we take care of our area it’s healthier for the environment and for us. The city was in need of a cleanup and I’m glad a bunch of people are working together today throughout the city." — Councilwoman Diane Simmons

resident Tiachelle Clifford, the trash at the center was mostly from adults.

“We saw a lot of beer bottles, cigarillo wrappers, cigarettes, broken glass and things we know kids can’t even buy,” she said.

It’s not good to see that in an area where children play and interact. It’s sad.”

Clifford, who came from Oberlin in support of Simmons, said she was disappointed in seeing the litter across the streets.

“In Oberlin we’re taught from a young age to be proud of our environment. If we see trash we pick it up. We want it to be pretty and something we’re proud of,” she said.

She said picking up trash and making the city clean is something that boosts community spirits.

“When your city is clean it makes you proud. You don’t drive by with garbage in the bushes and in fields. It’s something nice to look at,” she said.

“We saw so much trash today where people walk. Maybe Elyria needs more accessibility to trash cans. I think there should be more throughout the city.”

PHOTOS BY LYRIC AQUINO — THE MORNING JOURNAL Volunteers Tiachelle Clifford and Achilles Morales pick up trash in a littered field in Elyria on April 17.

Diane Simmons picks up trash in her ward on April 17 as part of a city wide cleanup day in Elyria.