Keep Picayune Beautiful planning big event to spruce up county

Published 7:00 am Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Members of Keep Picayune Beautiful are working with leaders in Poplarville and members of the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors to organize a countywide cleanup day.

Keep Picayune Beautiful Executive Director Christy Goss said in a press release that she is also contacting representatives with local school districts, civic clubs, and power companies to get them involved in the effort.

“It just takes everyone working together to make a big impact,” Goss said via phone.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Cleanup days take place periodically through the city.

An example includes employees with Coast Electric held a cleanup day on Martin Luther King Jr. Day that began at 7 a.m. in Picayune and other areas to pick up trash. The employees were working along Highway 11 that day.  Goss said that city employees head out to a specific area each Thursday at 2 p.m. to pick up trash in that area for 20 minutes.

As part of the push to make the annual event a countywide effort, a motion was approved by the Board of Supervisors during a previous meeting to collaborate with the Keep Picayune Beautiful’s plan. Goss said she is in discussions with the Poplarville Board of Aldermen to get the county seat involved as well.

Goss said that the countywide cleanup day will be held on March 30, which will be in collaboration with the Great American Cleanup Day.

This year’s event in Picayune will not just focus on waste in the city, it will also offer an opportunity to brighten the city in other ways. Goss said in the release that participants can choose from one of several projects, such as painting areas of the city in need of a fresh coat, flowerbeds at key areas or clean a creek or waterway by removing trash. Goss said she is seeking public input concerning potential projects for the day.  Large dumpsters will be strategically placed through the city for those who collect waste so it can be disposed of properly.

This year’s annual event will begin at 8 a.m., March 30, at Crosby Commons where volunteers can choose the project they would like to assist with. A lunch will be held at the park that day where prizes will be provided in a number of categories.

Community members with ideas for projects for the day can be submitted by contacting Goss at 601-798-9079 or sending an email to cgoss@picayune.ms.us. Additional information about the effort can also be obtained by contacting Goss.