LYNN — The city is taking action to create a cleaner community, Mayor Jared Nicholson said.
Nicholson said that he has made cleaning up the city’s streets and parks a priority since he took office in January. This includes improving outreach to residents and businesses, enforcing overflowing dumpsters, investing in new equipment and personnel within the Department of Public Works, improving communication between the DPW and the public, and working with regional partners to identify best practices and potential resources to address the issue.
“Everyone wants a cleaner city,” Nicholson said. “We are investing more time and resources to achieve this and we ask that all residents and businesses do their part. I’m confident that working together, we will make it a reality.”
The DPW has amped up litter-removal efforts, with street sweeping set to resume this fall. A new, three-wheel mechanical sweeper will be used, which features 360-degree visibility and easy maneuverability.
Additional waste receptacles will be added in parks and high-traffic areas and cameras will be installed in city parking lots. New weekend shifts are being added for barrel emptying, individuals are encouraged to pick up trash in front of their businesses or residences and sweep up sidewalk and gutter lines.
This spring, a series of neighborhood cleanups took place, starting with Kiley Park and also including Warren Street Playground, High Rock Park, Hood Park, the Commons, Neptune/McManus Park, Clarke Street Park, Western Burial Ground, Ames Park, and Keaney Park. Hundreds of volunteers came out to pick up the areas. Another round of cleanups will begin in the fall.
In addition to taking steps to clean up existing litter, Nicholson is also focused on prevention and awareness. The mayor’s office is increasing communication about litter initiatives, as well as information about ticketing and towing during street sweeping.
Vehicles parked in street sweeping zones during times that are prohibited will be ticketed. Vehicles with seven or more unpaid tickets will be towed. The Parking Department is working to communicate this to residents in multiple languages.
There are also outreach efforts in Lynn schools, Nicholson said. In July, 20 second-graders were honored for their winning submissions in the “Keep Lynn Clean” poster contest that was held in second grade classrooms throughout the city and was coordinated by the chairs of the City Council’s Trash and Litter Committee, Councilors Brian Field and Diana Chakoutis.
“Councilor Chakoutis and I established the committee to tackle the litter problem that we, like many communities, are facing,” Field said. “I’m proud of the work that we’ve done both to coordinate community and park cleanups and with the Lynn Public Schools to educate students about the harmful effects of littering. We will continue to make every effort to help alleviate the problem, but it’s going to take everyone to help out if we are hoping to see any long-lasting success.”
Nicholson said it is important to continue to impress upon the city’s youngest residents the importance of these initiatives.
“We want to make it part of the culture,” Nicholson said. “If children grow up with the idea that it is everyone’s obligation to help keep the city clean, we will see the results.”
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at [email protected].
