Volunteers from the Pell City High School football team will be planting 25 red maple trees along the walking track (pictured) at Lakeside Park on Saturday, April 22 for the Pell City city-wide cleanup. 

Pell City Mayor Bill Pruitt and other city leaders are organizing a citywide community cleanup to celebrate Earth Day on Saturday.

“We have had a very positive response,” Pruitt stated. “We are conducting the citywide cleanup to show pride in our city.”

Earth Day is an annual event held every year on April 22 since 1970 to raise awareness for environmental protection. Various events are held in over 193 countries throughout the world in a coordinated effort to organize individuals to help clean up the environment, beginning in their own neighborhoods. 

Several projects are planned for Pell City Community Cleanup Day. Volunteers will be removing debris from right-of-way areas throughout Pell City. The Pell City Area Habitat for Humanity will be donating time and labor to paint the exterior first floor of the Mays House located near Lakeside Park in Pell City. They have already pressure-washed the exterior. Benjamin Moore has donated paint for the project and Home Depot has donated additional building supplies.

Pell City Parks and Recreation employees have temporarily removed a non-serviceable wheelchair ramp to prevent any further vandalization to the property. Employees have replaced broken windows and pieces of wood trim prior to applying paint. Volunteers are need to help clean up debris, including bricks, concrete blocks, and broken wood pieces from around the area.

Members of the Pell City High School football team will be planting 25 red maple trees along the walking track in Lakeside Park to create shade for the area.

Roll off dumpsters will also be set up on 19th Street South at the Boys and Girls Club on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for residents to dispose of household items, old tires, and other large trash items. Disposal of paint and commercial business waste are restricted.

“We’ve only identified three main projects that we will be working on, but we also want to encourage folks to help clean up their neighborhoods,” Pruitt stated. “This is a great opportunity to find areas that they see have a need or find a project of their own.”

Additional ways for individuals to be more environmentally conscientious on a daily basis are to organize neighborhoods to pick up litter in the area. Civic groups, churches, or other volunteer groups can coordinate a beautification project. Local gardening groups, like the Pell City Garden Club and the Pell City Gateway Community Garden, are also needing volunteers to help plant and maintain green spaces.

Residents within Pell City city limits can acquire recycling bins as a supplement to their trash pickup service at no additional cost. Residents can request a bin by calling (205) 884-8267 between 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Items such as paper, cardboard, plastic, and aluminum cans can be placed in the bins which are picked up on the same day as regular trash bins. The service is not currently available to businesses.

Volunteers for Pell City Community Cleanup Day will need to sign up at the Boys and Girls Club on Saturday by 7 a.m. Vests, gloves, and collection bags will be provided to volunteers at the Street Department at 417 19th Street South. Those organizing contact the Pell City Street Department at (205) 884-8267 for further details.