Jamestown, NY \u2014 With more events planned in and around the city, Jamestown Parks and Recreation crews are working to keep public spaces ready. An uptick in vandalism has added to the department\u2019s already busy workload.<\/p>\n
Now, a new partnership with a local nonprofit is bringing additional community support to cleanup and beautification efforts throughout the city.<\/p>\n
UCAN City Mission, a local nonprofit serving people in the Jamestown community, is joining forces with the city on projects that include weed pulling, litter pickup and graffiti removal.<\/p>\n
\u201cA few months ago we were approached by the Sheldon Foundation to potentially help keep some areas in downtown Jamestown neat and clean. We understood that the city had some areas that we could support, and also help our guests feel a sense of ownership and give them some meaningful work,\u201d said Bruce Baehr, executive director of UCAN City Mission. \u201cSo this has been a good partnership and collaboration for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The formal program is expected to begin in spring 2027, but UCAN reached out to the city about getting involved this fall ahead of several upcoming events.<\/p>\n
Trevor Charlery, a Jamestown resident participating in the effort, said he wants to help make a difference in his community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are out here doing this to help the community, that\u2019s my goal,\u201d Charley said. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to see how much stuff we are doing in the city to help make it nice again.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The partnership is intended to complement the work already being done by city Parks and Recreation crews, giving the department an opportunity to address additional maintenance needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s great we are going to be able to do more fine tuning and clean some places that we haven\u2019t had the time or manpower to maintain on a daily basis,\u201d said Dan Stone, Parks and Recreation manager for the city of Jamestown. \u201cIt\u2019s always nice when we can partner with a local nonprofit and make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city of Jamestown, UCAN City Mission and the Sheldon Foundation plan to continue the collaboration when the formal program begins next spring.<\/p>\n
For more information on UCAN City Mission, visit their website here: www.ucancitymission.org<\/a><\/p>\n