Cheney volunteers needed for a Clean Sweep April 23

By BECKY THOMAS

Staff Reporter

As the last remnants of snow melt away in Cheney, city leaders are asking residents and businesses to band together for some spring cleaning.

The fourth annual Cheney Clean Sweep will be held throughout the city April 23. The event, started by the Cheney Police Department to clean up streets and yards post-winter, this year aims to bring neighbors together to pick up garbage, get rid of their junk and beautify public areas in the city.

Cheney's Community Development and Solid Waste departments will pilot the event this year.

“We just thought it was a better fit with our new solid waste department and code enforcement,” Community Development director Brian Jennings said. “The big question now is how many volunteers we can get and how many sponsors we can get to support the volunteers.”

Volunteers will meet at Veterans' Memorial Park Saturday, April 23 at 8:30 a.m. and spread out throughout the city collecting litter. The cleanup will end at noon, and Jennings said businesses that wish to sponsor the event could chip in with trash-collecting supplies, food or small gifts for the volunteers.

Clean Sweep will also set up collection stations throughout the city for residents to dispose of larger items that they've been meaning to throw out. The collection stations will be located at a city-owned lot near Salnave Park, Veteran's Memorial Park, Cheney High School and Amazing Grace Fellowship at 416 Betz Road.

Shredding services will be available at Veterans' Memorial Park throughout the morning for those wishing to dispose of sensitive documents.

The Clean Sweep event comes on the heels of Earth Day, April 22. Eastern Washington University will host several events that day, and the city of Cheney will be recognized for its first year as a Tree City USA.

Volunteers who wish to participate in Cheney Clean Sweep do not need to sign up ahead of time, Jennings said, but questions should be directed to Community Development at 498-9240.

Becky Thomas can be reached at [email protected].