Armed with trash bags, gloves and trash grabbers, volunteers got down and dirty to help keep Wildwood clean.
The Wildwood Street Sweepers task force gathered at City Hall on Sept. 7 for the Community Cleanup. The task force was created in 2022 under the city’s Public Works Department to assist with keeping the community clean. Tara Tradd, code compliance manager for the Public Works Department, runs the group.
“Through educational events like this, we hope to increase awareness and hope it creates new habits for individuals,” Tradd said.
The Community Cleanup event was part of the litter prevention group’s efforts to “reduce and eliminate litter within the community by promoting responsible waste disposal, increasing public awareness and creating healthier neighborhoods,” adding there is a great need to reduce the amount of litter on the roadways in the city.
During the event, 30 volunteers broke off into smaller groups for effective cleaning on some of Wildwood’s busiest streets.
The cleanup took place in a section of downtown near City Hall bordered by Main Street on the west, Cleveland Avenue on the north, Warfield Avenue the east and Huey Street on the south.
Safety was considered when officials were choosing the proximity for the cleanup, Tradd said.
The volunteers collected and bagged the trash, then a public works crew drove around to pick up.
“Through community engagement, participants can connect and foster a deeper sense of community pride,” he said. “Local geography volunteers may discover areas of our city that they hadn’t visited before. Participants will gain an understanding of our commitment to environmental stewardship and beautification efforts.”
Susan Wassung, a member of the Wildwood Street Sweepers, said she enjoys volunteering and keeping the community looking beautiful.
“It is important for our cities and the environment to have volunteers to help keep the community clean,” said Wassung, of the Village of Dunedin.
The event not only allows residents an opportunity to safely clean, it provides a safe space for them to connect with one another.
“Folks from all different age groups represent our community, including the business community, the faith-based community and our residents,” Tradd said. “Lots of laughter is always observed.”
Since its founding, the Wildwood Street Sweepers have received affiliate status with Keep America Beautiful, which provides resources to help end littering and improve recycling.
The affiliation allowed the task force to create a new program for residents called Keep Wildwood Beautiful.
“We have a new initiative where people can do their own pop-up cleanup event that the city will support,” Tradd said.
Residents who wish to form a small-scale cleanup effort can work with the city to get free gloves and trash bags for the cleaning. The city also provides long-handled garbage grabbers and collects bags of trash when the event is over.
For more information about the Wildwood Street Sweepers, visit the Wildwood Street Sweeper Facebook page or call Tradd at 352-661-6067.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
