City of Akron and Keep Akron Beautiful Kick off Clean Up Akron Month

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City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of City of Akron Press Office
Published: 04-03-2023

Akron, Ohio, April 3, 2023 — This morning, the City of Akron, Akron City Council, and Keep Akron Beautiful (KAB) held a press conference to kick off Clean up Akron Month. Clean Up Akron Month is an initiative headed by KAB to host clean-up events throughout the month in the City’s neighborhoods. Mayor Horrigan and Akron City Councilman Donnie Kammer also presented proclamations to Firestone Park resident Debbie Miller who has single-handedly cleaned up the Firestone Park neighborhood over the last several months.

“Clean Up Akron Month is a reminder to our residents that we can all take pride in our communities and help to get them clean and keep them that way,” said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. “Cleaning up the city is an every day endeavor and it’s residents like Debbie Miller who really show that one person can make a big difference. Imagine what we could do with everyone being a bit more like Debbie?”

Debbie was spurred to action when she was walking her dogs and one of them cut their nose on a discarded piece of broken glass on a sidewalk. Since then, she has made it her goal to clean up everywhere she walks her dogs, starting with the streets in Firestone Park. She’s cleaned all 74 streets in her neighborhood and has expanded her mission, spreading her message to anyone who stops to chat.

Clean Up Akron Month is KAB’s largest volunteer effort of the year. Their mission is to improve Akron’s quality of life through beautification and responsible environmental management. In April, KAB will be hosting multiple clean-ups. Upcoming event dates are listed below:

• April 22, 2023 – Ward 2 Cleanup - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Patterson Park Sports Complex- 955 Patterson Ave Akron, OH 44310
• April 29, 2023 – Summit Lake Cleanup in partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Summit Lake Community Center- 380 W. Crosier Street Akron, OH 44311

Future events, volunteer sign-up, and more can be found on their website. Residents can also do a self-led clean-up in their own neighborhoods and KAB will provide trash bags, gloves, sanitizer, and litter grabbers.

“After the long winter, there is especially a need for litter cleanup and beautification,” said Keep Akron Beautiful CEO Jacqui Ricchiuti. “That’s why we have Clean Up Akron Month in April, and why every volunteer makes a huge difference in removing tons of litter from their local streets, parks, and schools.”

Today’s speakers included Mayor Horrigan, Akron Fire Chief Joseph Natko, Akron Police Captain and KAB board member David Laughlin, CEO of Keep Akron Beautiful Jacqui Ricchiuti, Ward 7 Councilman Donnie Kammer, and resident and advocate Debbie Miller.

For further information, contact:
Stephanie Marsh
Chief Communications Officer
Phone: 330-375-2754
E-mail: [email protected]