Newmarket residents can be ready for some spring cleaning as the town has announced its 45th annual community clean-up campaign starting May 6.
The town will offer park cleaning events in its seven wards, with free clean-up kits available. The campaign will run throughout May, with the town offering more clean-up kits for residents willing to work on the town’s various parks, trails and greenspaces.
The annual event encourages residents to take care of natural spaces in the community. The May 6 event will run from 9 a.m. to noon in most wards, but the town encourages an array of clean-up locations in the two weeks to follow.
Ward 1 will clean Frank Stonach Park, Ward 2 will clean Fairgrounds Park, Ward 3 will clean George Richardson Park - South, Ward 4 will clean Rogers Park, Ward 5 will clean the Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ward 6 will clean Paul Semple Park and Ward 7 will clean Environmental Park.
Clean-up kits will be available at the locations May 6, but you can also pick up kits at the town’s customer service kiosks while supplies last. Kits include garbage bags, a water bottle, gloves and safety tips. One clean-up kit will be provided per group, with larger groups of 10 or more encouraged to contact [email protected] to arrange a separate pick-up.
You can participate at any time and in any public green space during the two weeks. The town advises you to follow safety tips, stay off private property and dangerous areas like riverbanks. Dangerous items like broken glass or needles should be left behind, with a location mentioned for safe disposal by town staff in the post-cleanup survey at newmarket.ca/communitycleanup. All garbage bags can be left at park garbage bins for pickup by town staff.
High school students can earn up to three volunteer hours for the event, with staff available to sign forms May 6, or at the municipal office at 395 Mulock Dr. after that date.
Last year’s cleanup day featured 15 locations, with 400 clean-up kits distributed and more than 80 bags collected.
A complete list of targeted locations is available at newmarket.ca/communitycleanup.
