SPRING CLEANUP
Collar City community participates in Earth Day efforts
TROY, N.Y. » Members of the Collar City community gathered on Monday to volunteer in Earth Day cleanup efforts.
“Participating in Troy’s Earth Day cleanup program gives everyone an opportunity to make a positive and meaningful contribution to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood,” Troy Mayor Patrick Madden said in a statement, noting that community involvement is essential for making Earth Day successful as well as keeping the city clean and green all year round.
Approximately 15 neighborhood cleanup projects took place as part of the annual citywide Earth Day neighborhood cleanup program in locations across the city.
“Earth Day is an important reminder that we must be ever vigilant in our protection of the environment. Today is also a day in which we stand in solidarity with our neighbors in Hoosick, Petersburgh and Nassau who have been victims of poor management of our environment. As County Executive, I will always do everything in my power to protect our natural resources for our residents and future generations,” said Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin.
Troy residents, families, and business owners gathered to improve community parks, green spaces, and neighborhoods.
In downtown Troy, the Business Improvement District organized an initiative to cleanup Riverfront Park and the entire district.
“The annual Downtown Troy Spring Cleanup is a great way to spend a morning outdoors, connecting with coworkers and neigh
bors, but it is also much more than that,” said Katie Hammon, executive director of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District. “By taking a morning to pick up trash and clear leaves and debris from our parks, streets, and alleys, we are reminding ourselves that each of us plays an important part in keeping our city clean.”
Many participants volunteered their time with Troybased nonprofit Capital Roots, which held cleanup sessions at the Capital Roots’ Produce Project Urban Farm on Eighth Street and the Uncle Sam Trailhead in North Central.
“While every day is Earth Day at Capital Roots, today we’re giving the planet the public spotlight it deserves,” said chief executive officer Amy Klein. “By cleaning our neighborhoods, we’re eliminating harmful pollutants from our soil and watershed in an effort to create cleaner, safer communities for everyone in the Capital Region.”
“We’re grateful to the nearly 50 volunteers who took time to join us today, proving that together we can make a lasting positive impact on our neighborhoods,” added Klein.