Oak Park Community Council

How to Keep Your Neighborhood Clean

Making a cleaner and nicer world starts locally. Once you are able to keep your own home neat and tidy, you can take the extra effort to work on beautifying your town with friends  and neighbors. An organized clean-up effort and some good follow-up work can make a nicer world for everyone to live in. Help clean up your home and neighborhood, and keep it that way.

Pick up litter
Litter, trash that people drop all around the ground, is an eyesore. Worse, it can be harmful to children, animals, and the rest of the environment. If you see some trash on the ground around your neighborhood, don’t assume someone else will take care of it. Be proactive in taking care of where you live.

Pick up after your pets
If you have pets that go for walks, especially dogs, make sure you pick up their poop. Nobody wants to see it, smell it, or even accidentally step in it. Follow your pets with a plastic bag to clean up after them, and make sure you throw the bag away in a trash bin. Leaving your pets’ waste behind can lead to the spread of disease and promote the spread of flies.

Report graffiti
Graffiti, painting on walls and other public places, is illegal in many locations, and an eyesore. If you notice this kind of artwork on a public building or structure, report it to the local authorities. Use “Get It Done” - application available for iPhone and Android.

Talk to your neighbors about a clean-up effort
Anything you do in your area will be a group effort, so you’ll need others to join in. When you get to know your neighbors, you’ll probably discover that you notice many of the same issues in your neighborhood. Agreeing on what you need to do is a good first step to starting a clean-up program.

Let’s keep Oak Park safe and clean! Want to become a part of an Oak Park Environmental team? Contact Us at oakpark.sd@gmail.com