An annual citywide beautification and improvement program called Scranton City Pride will resume May 26 to June 6 throughout the city, organizers announced.<\/p>\n
Volunteer registration is open at scrantontomorrow.org\/scrantoncitypride<\/a> for the program that is a project of Scranton Tomorrow, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania and United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n City Pride features various cleanups, plantings and beautification programs, including the fourth annual \u201cGarbage Olympics,\u201d a trash and litter pickup contest hosted by NeighborWorks and UNC, to be held May 30.<\/p>\n Volunteers are the key to the program\u2019s success. Last year, 1,786 volunteers contributed 2,292 service hours to complete 95 projects and remove 3,000 pounds of trash from city streets.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are lots of ways to participate in City Pride,\u201d said Steve Ward, project director of the Safe, Clean, Green & Design programs at Scranton Tomorrow. \u201cAll three partner organizations (Scranton Tomorrow, NeighborWorks and UNC) have a basic list of projects that need volunteer support. We also encourage people to create projects on their own if they see a need in their neighborhood. They can recruit their neighbors, work with a neighborhood association, or work independently.\u201d<\/p>\n Volunteers are given essential supplies needed to complete their projects, including garbage bags, litter pickers, brooms, gloves and safety vests for cleanups, and plants and tools for beautification projects.<\/p>\n \u201cAll you have to do is register and show up,\u201d Ward said in an announcement.<\/p>\n Scranton City Pride volunteer opportunities include:<\/p>\n Beautification\/plantings: Weed, prune, plant flowers and enhance curb appeal.<\/p>\n Cleanups: Remove litter, rake, sweep, and paint over graffiti in parks and green spaces.<\/p>\n Garbage Olympics: This program is a two-hour competition on Saturday, May 30, between Team Pine Brook hosted by UNC and Team West Side hosted by NeighborWorks Northeastern PA. Start times are 10 a.m. in Pine Brook and 10:30 a.m. in West Scranton. The team that removes the most trash and debris from city streets and sidewalks wins.<\/p>\n Expand the local pollinator garden network: With a few simple choices, make a big difference by planting native or pollinator-friendly plants to help birds, butterflies and other creatures. To learn more, contact Steve Ward at steve@scrantontomorrow.org<\/a> or 570-963-5901.<\/p>\n Beautify the downtown business district: Business owners are encouraged to tidy up sidewalks and storefronts in downtown Scranton. They may also enter creative floral container arrangements in Scranton Tomorrow\u2019s Downtown Business Class Category of the Electric City Flower Show. In celebration of America\u2019s 250th anniversary and Pennsylvania\u2019s important role in American history, displays will feature red, white and blue. Entries will be on display throughout the downtown during First Friday in June. Winners will be honored at Art in Bloom at the Everhart Museum, Scranton, on June 19. For information on downtown floral displays, email Liz Baldi, business development director, Scranton Tomorrow, at lizbaldi@scrantontomorrow.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Design a project: Scranton City Pride team members will help volunteers develop their own project ideas from concept to completion. Contact Steve Ward at steve@scrantontomorrow.org<\/a> or 570-963-5901.<\/p>\n Be a good neighbor: Homeowners are encouraged to clean, spruce up or improve their home\u2019s exterior or front yard. Make it a DIY project for the family or recruit neighbors to help keep Scranton beautiful. For expert advice, visit Scranton Tomorrow\u2019s City Pride team at Christopher A. Doherty Park, Linden Street and Wyoming Avenue, during First Friday in June.<\/p>\n