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Troy Beautification Council - Spring Cleaning On April 18th at least 20 volunteer groups from around Troy got together to give Troy a much needed Spring Cleaning. Many of these groups had already been in existence such as Christine O'Connell and her Burden Pond Gang, Mt. Ida Preservation Association and Friends of Prospect Park. Last year, Troy Beautification Council (TBC) was formed to strategically address the beautification concerns within the city of Troy and to advise the Mayor on such issues. During the inception of our group we decided to address the entryways of the city. The group inspected the entryways and established an improvement plan for each location. TBC decided that the Menands Bridge was in the highest need category and initiated a clean-up there (see August 1997 Issue of TUI). On June 21, 1997 a group of 20 volunteers gathered and demonstrated how effective a clean-up can be. After about six hours of hard work the overgrowth cleared from that location exposed a beautiful stone fence that had not been seen in quite a few summers. The idea was to use this initial clean-up as a model for other community groups who could adopt and improve other spaces within the city. A similar prototype for a pocket park was previously initiated on May 17,1997 at the Canal Avenue Tot Lot. TBC envisioned a city-wide initiative might take place from the example set by these efforts. We are pleased to say that things are not only going along as planned but received a wonderful boost from our Mayor. Capital District Community Gardens used TBCs recommendations for the entryways and received a $20,000 grant last year and an additional $20,000 grant this year from CDBG funds. With that they hired John Samatulski to coordinate plans and write grants that focus on the City entryways. Mayor Pattison then called a meeting of some of the various group leaders that have organized clean-ups in Troy in the past and enlisted the support of The Record to help coordinate all of our individual events into a one day event. TBC was also able to raise funds to purchase some T-shirts for the volunteers. With a contribution from the city, The Record and many fine individuals (friends of Christine O'Connell, yet again!!!) we were able to purchase 260 T-shirts. We are very proud to say that the shirts were passed along to volunteers and that we still need to buy more shirts for about 60 or so volunteers that didn't receive shirts. Capital Shirt Company 179 River St. Troy provided free labor, charging us only their cost for the T-shirt. Below are some comments from some of the group leaders and involved parties. We hope that next year will be twice as big with twice as many groups signing up!. -"It went well, we had lots of kids, some adults that came out and helped", Corliss Park Playground, Pat Bishop. -"We had 20-25 volunteers that picked up glass & garbage, we also cleaned the buffer and the RPI students really were good", Sixth Avenue Kids Park, Jeannie Steigler. -"Things went very well, we had 30 volunteers, Patricelli's Deli donated lunch, most of our volunteers heard about this through our neighborhood group", Canal Ave. Tot Lot, Nathalie Gibeau. -"We had a great turn out, 70-80 people, we did a lot of leaf raking, cleared the hand, tennis & basketball court of leaves and glass and identified several trees with tags", Friends of Prospect Park, Rosemary Oathout & Bob MacLasco. -"We picked up a lot of trash that was dumped over the side of Campbell's Avenue. All of our volunteers were from the neighborhood", Vanderheyden Ave. Estates Neighborhood Group, Leo White. -"The couch was a challenge!" Poestenkill Gorge, Linden Ave. Homeowners Association, Jim Flosdorf. -"I've never seen it more clean since I moved here in 1966" Seventh Ave. Neighborhood between Ingalls & 101st St. Flora Carr & Levolia Thompson. -"We had about 30 people, all from the neighborhood and nearby. Stewart's donated beverages. We cleaned the cemetery and the fresh water springs on Spring Ave.", Mt. Ida Preservation Association, Brant Caird. -"We had a group of kids from the Bridge Coalition, 17 RPI ROTC students from Company Charlie & about 10 people from the Boardwalk Community made our clean up very very successful", Ingalls Avenue Waterfront, Michael Kittner. -"Hopefully interest will build for a future clean up event and more residents will participate", Beman Park, Rochelle Bouton of RPI Fraternity. -"As members of my staff reported back to me, they said it was very impressive to see groups throughout Troy working on many projects everywhere they went" Lisa Lewis, The Record. -With the help of some coordinating efforts from Community Gardens, residents and community service organizations cleaned upGreen Island Bridge, Hoosick Street Bridge and 125th Street Bridge and were rewarded with getting refreshments from Hannaford and Freihofers. Troy Beautification Council would like to thank Mayor Mark Pattison, The Record, Capital Shirt Company, Friends of Christine O'Connell, Troy Dept. Public Works & Dept. of Parks & Recreation workers that volunteered their time as well as those who worked on their day off and Capital District Community Gardens. Special thanks to the Mt. Ida Preservation Group individuals for organizinganized Sunday's Earth Day Celebration.. Unfortunately the weather did not hold out, but plans for a bigger and better event next year are currently underway. Troy Beautification Council would especially like to express their deepest gratitude to the many volunteers who made this event such a success. Without you we could never have accomplished all that we did!! We hope that you will join us and bring a friend, relative, coworker or neighbor for the next time an effort like this is planned. The hope is to grow into an Earth Day weekend with the clean-up on Saturday and Celebration on Sunday. Stay tuned!! In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation 
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