The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Downtown Committee is sponsoring another spring Downtown Cleanup event.  This year’s event will be held on Monday, April 22, to coincide with Earth Day.

According to committee member John Crain, there are several projects being planned downtown, that the committee hopes will make the area a little more attractive for both local residents and visitors.  This is the third downtown clean-up sponsored by the committee, the first in 2021, and second in 2022.  These included some of the same types of projects this year’s event will have, but also included others, such as the painting of awnings, striping of parking spaces on the streets and parking lots, painting of Skubitz Plaza light poles, and five murals on the sides of downtown buildings.

According to Crain, “This year crews will be cleaning up, and removing stuff from the downtown gutters, sidewalks, alleys and parking lots. Things such as trash, leaves, weeds, and remnants of the winter’s ice and snow treatments.  We will also be washing windows of unoccupied buildings, painting street lights on Main and Wall, as well as benches and tables on Skubitz Plaza.  New mulch will be put down in a couple of areas, and flowers planted in others.  We’re also hoping to get another mural painted.”

“This is the third downtown cleanup we’ve had, and what made the first two so successful and rewarding, was all of the community members that volunteered their time, to come together for a common good,” Crain said.  “And we need that same type of volunteer help again this year.  The actual cleanup starts at 4 p.m. and goes till 6 p.m., so if you can spare about two and a half hours, from 3:45 to 6:15, we’ll find something for you to do, give you a tee shirt, and feed you when you’re done.”

“We also need some tools, such as flat blade and scoop shovels, loppers and pruning shears, brooms, dust pans, and step stools,” he said. ” If you can volunteer, and or have any of those items that we can use, please call (620) 266-9448, and ask for Katie or Bailey.  You can also email them at [email protected].  I promise, when you’re done, you’ll feel good about what you helped accomplish.”

The Clean Up Committee is made up of Chamber Downtown Committee members Baily Lyons, Cathy Bishop, Kate Freeman, and John Crain, Chamber President Lindsay Madison, and Craig Campbell, representing The Good Neighbor Action Team.

Crain said the committee would like to thank the following businesses and entities for their support:  Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, City of Fort Scott, Good Neighbor Action Team, My One Stop, Fort Scott Elks Lodge, Big Sugar Lumber, Bourbon County Arts Council, Bourbon County Garden Club, Holmtown Pub, Papa Don’s, Brick Street Barbecue, Common Ground Coffee, Sharkey’s Pub & Grub, Health Bourbon County Action Team, Fort Scott Community College, and Fort Scott USD 234.

 

“We’ve had several people volunteer already, but still need lots more,” he said.