Proposed at the last Warsaw Common Council meeting by Warsaw resident Monica Boyer, two city council women took charge of the request and put a city-wide spring clean-up effort in place.

The first Community Clean-up Week will be held April 20-26 and will coincide with the Kosciusko County Recycling Depot’s Environmental Action Week. Council president Diane Quance provided a presentation to the council Monday night noting the variety of special events that will happen that week as made possible by her and councilwoman Cindy Dobbins efforts.

Boyer asked the council last month to consider such an event to help city residents dispose of larger items and rubbish they may otherwise not be able to do.

The week will begin Saturday, April 20, with an open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the KC Recycling Depot. That day only, residents will be able to bring in two tires for recycling at no charge, and can bring in paper documents to be shredded from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Throughout the week, KC Recycling Depot will also offer discounted fees for recycling electronics, and will accept blue jeans for recycling.

Door prizes, snacks and a visit from Mother Earth will also take place during the open house.

Tuesday, April 23, will be Kids Clean-up Day. Quance said children and organizations for kids – such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts – will be encouraged that day to pick up trash in local neighborhoods. Special needs students from Warsaw Community High School will also be downtown that day picking up trash and sweeping as part of the community effort.

The KC Recycling Depot plans to mail a newsletter in next week’s edition of The PAPER that will provide safety tips for clean-up efforts.

Throughout the week of April 20-26, neighborhoods are also encouraged to get involved in clean-up efforts. “We’re asking neighborhoods to choose designated drivers to take recyclables to the KC Depot,” she said, noting that many people do not have the means to transport items.

The Warsaw Street Department that week will be offering a 2 for 1 deal on large item pick-ups, and neighbors are encouraged to go together for the dial-a-dumpster program. Arrangements must be made in advance, however, by calling 574-372-9561.

Community Clean-up Week is encouraging everyone to “take pride in our community,” Quance said. “Pick up, clean up, help a neighbor and work together to keep Warsaw a great place to live, work and play.”

“We’re starting this effort small and hopefully it will evolve into something much bigger,” added councilwoman Dobbins.

Organizations, neighborhoods and individuals wanting to take part in organized clean-up efforts should contact Quance at [email protected].

Assistant City Planner Tim Dombrosky is also organizing an event aimed at getting people more involved.

McKinley Park Spring Fling is happening Saturday, April 30, for residents in the area of Detroit to Harrison streets and Center Street to Pike Lake. The goal, Dombrosky told the Warsaw Common Council Monday night, is “to get neighbors involved and to meet each other. There’s a lot of benefits to having neighborhood groups.”

Calling it a pilot program for what he hopes will become a larger effort throughout the city, Dombrosky said the April 20 Spring Fling will begin at 11 a.m. at McKinley Park and will include $1 hot dogs, a pot luck picnic, corn hole, ladder golf, Jumbo Scrabble and sidewalk chalk.

Those attending will also be voting on a flag design. It is hoped that the area will have flags to possibly hang on light poles throughout the area to identify the neighborhood which will give people a sense of pride in their neighborhood.

Councilwoman Dobbins praised Dombrosky for his efforts and noted, “You’re going about it the right way, too. You’re giving them something fun.”

To learn more about the McKinley Park Spring Fling, check out Nextdoor McKinley Park online.