LYNN — The city has been working hard to gather help from residents and different organizations to start cleaning up the city, one block at a time.
Lynn has been working with the Department of Public Works (DPW), Community Development, the Parking Department, the Public Health Department, and Inspectional Services Department to partner with MassDevelopment and Lynn Main Streets to improve the downtown area.
While some of the mission’s projects include installing wayfinding signage around the downtown area and exploring creative placemaking techniques in Central Square, the central objective is to clean up the streets of the downtown area to reflect the desires of the constituents.
The Downtown Beautification Committee met up on the corner of Union Street and Buffum Street to pick up trash and help clean up the streets of the downtown area — even Mayor Jared C. Nicholson made an appearance, donning gloves and a Pikstik to help do his part.
Committee member Sergio Espinoza commented on the group’s effort to clean up the streets.
“We’ve been talking a lot about the beautification of the downtown area, and a lot of what we try to impact is the businesses in the area, and the biggest thing is the trash. Visually, it’s like any kind of food dish, you make your decision with your eyes… So, we’re trying to make sure the area is clean that has a different level of appeal not just to people in Lynn, but people on the outside,” Espinoza said.
Community Affairs and Outreach Coordinator Sarita Ago spoke about the work that’s been done to clean up the downtown area.
“This is a collective effort from everyone at City Hall. We’ve received multiple complaints from constituents about the lack of cleanliness in the downtown area — and it’s a top priority for the Mayor and his administration… We’re trying to do the best we can,” Ago said.
She continued, “What we thought was the best way was to meet constituents halfway. We opened up to the whole City Hall — and we have been volunteering since the first Friday of May, but we’ve been planning it for a while… There’s only a limited amount of time that we can do outside cleaning.”
The Downtown Beautification Committee has been meeting since December, Ago said. “We’ve been trying to figure out how we can help out… We’ve been talking with different businesses, coming down to talk to the businesses on this street, and we want to show up — and show them that we’ll do the best we can.”
Ago cited the Inspectional Services Department for helping out, as well as the DPW for picking up the trash bags once the committee is finished. “What we really count on are the volunteers, because we understand that it’s a community project — so we can’t do it without everyone pitching in.”
Mayor Nicholson took a second to pause during his efforts to clean up litter on the sidewalk to explain why this work is critical to the city and its constituents.
“The cleanliness of our downtown area has been a huge priority — it’s one that’s shared across the board with city government, local businesses and community members,” Nicholson said. “There’s a lot of steps that we’ve taken, but I think one of the most powerful is just getting out there, and showing folks that this is a priority.”
Nicholson continued, “We’re going to clean up this section of Union Street today, as part of a broader initiative that’s working its way across this part of downtown — and there’s two major benefits. One, it’s the cleanup that happens today — but number two is the impact that we’re hoping to have on the culture of letting everyone know that this matters and it’s important… So, I’m very grateful for all the city staff that’s helping to make this possible, as well as the community partners, the local businesses and the Health Center, the residents who are out here helping get the place clean, but also sending the message that Lynn deserves clean, public spaces.”
