Waverly Improvement AssociationCity Cleanup Competition - 6 months of Waverly cleaning efforts

Dear Judges,

Much of my first year as a WIA board member was dominated by the city cleanup competition. This proved to be a great challenge to myself and the WIA board, but one we wanted to take on because reducing trash is one of WIA’s top priorities.

Much was learned throughout this six month long campaign to cleanup our Waverly streets and alleys. While we identified the main areas plagued by illegal dumping, we also found some blocks very clean and well-kept by the residents.

We decided to follow-up the Mayor’s Spring Cleanup with area cleanups on the 3rd Saturday of every month. We targeted smaller sections of Waverly at each cleanup. The best part of this cleanup challenge was bringing together residents that didn’t already know each other. I was excited to see the number of residents that came out each month focused on reducing trash.

I learned a lot about the level of effort that is takes to rally individuals to action. I was very moved by the hard work our volunteers put forth every month this summer. It was a long six months, but at the same time it feels like we have just scratched the surface. There is still much work to be done in engaging the community on the issue of trash and sanitation here in Waverly.

With a city grant our efforts will have much greater and faster impact! I hope you enjoy the photos of our summer cleanups. I am very proud of our board and our residents for working so hard to make these positive changes here in Waverly.

Sincerely, Julie Bent

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April 21, 2012 - Mayor’s Spring Cleanup : We start off the competition with a great spring cleanup and also register with Project Clean Stream to improve our waterways. 3

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One area of focus in April was Chestnut Hill Natural Lounge and the adjacent alley behind the 600 block of East 37th Street. 5

These volunteer crews tackled part of Old York Road and McKewin Avenue.6

“The mayors clean-competition was a wonderful way to challenge our community on ways to clean, and keep clean, our community. While the competition is coming to a close, our community is challenged to go further in its efforts to continually engage our neighbors.

If the Waverly Improvement Association wins the competition we hope to use the money to purchase the tools to assist our neighbors in ongoing efforts: trash cans and recycling bins for those who do not have them, weed whackers to clear lots, and printed materials to remind our neighbors of their responsibility to keep Waverly Wonderful, and clean."

Regina Boyce, WIA President

“One of my favorite parts of the cleanups was encouraging residents to start recycling. We bought large and small bins from Kane Street and re-sold to our residents. Since April, we have sold 13 recycle bins to new recyclers in Waverly!”

Julie BentWIA Board Member

“I’ve heard quite a number of people express skepticism, and even downright dismissal, of the plan to have a Healthy Harbor by 2020 (healthyharborbaltimore.org).

I am a skeptical person, too, but when I take part in the community clean-ups and see my neighbors and friends pitch in, my skepticism gets knocked down a notch each time. The future and health of our harbor and our local waterways will only be sustained if each of us does our part, and if you look at the pictures from the Mayor's and Waverly Cleanups, you can see the progress before your very eyes.

We also invite you to walk your neighborhood, bring a trash bag and some gloves, and help keep the momentum going. Each of us has a part, and when we take this to heart, a Healthy Harbor is achievable, and so much more.

Joining the cleanups has, and will, renew your faith and pride in Baltimore, and we've only just begun.”

Douglas William Garcia MowbrayWIA Board Member

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3540 Old York Road - our adopt-a-lot. The WIA has high hopes for this vacant lot, but to our surprise proved to be a much bigger beast than we realized.8

Members of the April cleanup crew here left with poison ivy! We decided to regroup and figure out how tackle this lot over the course of next year (2013). 9

The Explorer’s took on the blocked storm drains and refreshed the clean water stencils along Old York Road. Thanks to Blue Water Baltimore for lending us stencil kits.10

Thanks to Officer Barnett’s Explorers for joining our April cleanup!11

May 19, 2012 : We take on North Waverly. Our cleanup volunteers clean the Parkwyrth Avenue alley.12

At Parkwyrth we run into a lot of overgrown weeds, trees, and leaves.13

Trash and debris is hidden behind all these weeds and leaves.14

Our cleanup team finds bulk trash that needs to be cleared.15

Misson accomplished!16

We left behind a very clean alley and a large pile awaiting a DPW pickup. Thank you Public Works! 17

June 16, 2012 : We take on the alley behind the 700 Block of East 37th Street.18

We have a power crew here in June and together we take this alley by storm.19

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Voila! Nice work June Cleanup Team!!21

July 21, 2012 - Uh Oh, our cleanup gets rained out!July 28, 2012 : Our rain date only draws 3 volunteers, but we don’t go home.22

Since we are small team, we decide to focus our energies on the corner of Old York Road and clear the weeds and grass hiding the curb. Looks much better! 23

August 18, 2012 : This cleanup brings out the most volunteers! With 17 hard working residents we really make a big impact and cover a lot of ground.24

Our cleanup team tackles the open lot and very overgrown alley at the corner of East 35th Street and Old York Road. 25

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This was a huge job, but no one backs down!27

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Nice work! Alley and street corner are clean and clear.29

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The August team destroys and conquers! They will never fear trash or weeds!31

But our August cleanup didn’t stop there, some of our volunteers took on the alley behind the 600 Block of East 35th Street.32

Trash and debris cleared and the alleys swept from edge to edge. Doesn’t get much better than this! 33

A before and after view of the alley behind the 3500 block of Old York Road.34

Nice work August Team!! The 35th Street corner lot looks fabulous.35

These photos were taken in February 2012 of the vacant lot at the 600 block of Venable Avenue. WIA initiated efforts to work with lot owners to address this terrible situation. 36

September 15, 2012 : Our cleanup team takes on this Venable Avenue lot in hopes to be able to use it as a community green space. 37

The September team cleared trash, furniture, and major overgrowth from this area. 38

WIA is currently working with the owners to finish clearing out this area and developing a plans keep this lot clear and free of trash and abuse. 39

We cleared graffiti from the light pole and piled up a good number of bags and bundled tree clippings for city pickup. 40

In September, we also worked with Blue Water Baltimore to clean out blocked storm drains and paint them with their new stencils. 41

Amy Dewan came out from BWB to show us how to safely use the stencils.42

These stencils are really visually exciting and fun to work with! We discovered that we need about 40 minutes each storm drain to clean and properly stencil. 43

Nice Work! We are continue to work with BWB and residents to paint all of the storm drains in Waverly. To date, we have three completed and they look fabulous!44

The fliers that we distributed for our monthly cleanups. April through September 201245

WAVERLY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

We hope to win one of the $5000 grants and continue to grow our cleanup initiatives throughout Wonderful Waverly. Please give us the help we need to continue transforming our neighborhood!

waverlyimprovement.org