The Brookline Memorial Recreation Center
Earth Day - April 17, 2010
PA Cleanways Project

The Brookline Park Cleanup Crew

"Click on images for larger pictures"

APRIL 17 - In celebration of Earth Day 2010, the boys and girls of Brookline came together for the 6th annual PA Cleanways "Let's Pick It Up, PA" project. One team worked their way through Brookline Park and along Breining Street, while another went west to tidy up Moore Park, located on Pioneer Avenue. When all was finished, these hardy youngsters had collected quite an assortment of garbage, downed tree limbs and discarded construction debris.

The Cleanways Project here in Brookline was coordinated by Keith Knecht of the South Pittsburgh Development Corporation (SPDC), a local community action group. The city-wide effort was directed by coordinators from the Pennsylvania Resources Council. PA Cleanways is statewide effort to help eliminate illegal dumping and littering in Pennsylvania. Every year on Earth Day weekend, nearly 200,000 residents throughout the state join in the pickup.

Kathy and Liam Yates, Nathan and Jim Sippey, Luke Ritchie, Rocky and Rodney Powell and Milan Tyler.

Aside from the work done in Brookline's two parks, several other teams, each led by members of SPDC, concentrated on different areas of the community. These groups also collected several truckloads of trash. The areas cleaned were Brookline Boulevard, Pioneer Avenue, Trelona Way (boulevard service alley), Creedmoor Avenue, Capital Avenue and Fitch Way.
Ken Stiger and his 'trash mobile.' He cleans a large section from Jillson over to the Brookline mural about once a week. Some of the volunteers who worked up on Brookline Boulevard and the main streets.

So much is said about the conflicts around the globe, but right here at home, we are also engaged in a conflict of sorts. It's called the "War on Litter." Just take a walk along Brookline Boulevard on any given day. Despite the presence of numerous trash containers, the abundance of loose trash is astounding. "Where does it all come from?"

SPDC cleanup organizer Keith Knecht.

Special thanks to all the boys and girls of Brookline Park, the Cub Scouts and parents of Pack#601 from Resurrection Church and the other concerned citizens of our community, who came out on a cold Spring morning to help make a difference in our neighborhood. Brookline is a better, and cleaner, place because of them. Finally, thanks as always to Keith Knecht and the other members of SPDC, Antonio's Pizzeria, Cannon Coffee and our partners in Citiparks for their continued support of the PA Cleanways project and our efforts here at Brookline Park.
As the day went on the pile grew bigger. That's Keith Knecht, Jim Washabaugh and the twins, Rocky and Rodney Powell. Thanks to Antonio's Pizzeria. It's some of the best pizza in Brookline. Just look at the smiling faces. Confusious say: 'Kids will work hard for good pizza!.'

Thanks to the following individuals for coming out to help us rid Brookline and Moore Parks of trash: Fred Metting, Michelle Metting, Jerry Metting, Mike Metting, Angela Esch, Zachary Esch, Dante Klein, Tom Klein, Mary Ann McCarthy, Shane McCarthy, Jim Sippey, Nathan Sippey, Patty Trettel, Zach Miller, Chris Miller, Kathy Yates, Liam Yates, Luke Ritchie, Hunter Ritchie, Candace Moses, Kara LaPorte, Antonio LaPorte, Tori LaPorte, Santiano LaPorte, Franchesca LaPorte, Michael Elwood, Kristin Pendzich, Hannah Nassif, Brittany Corbett, Joe Szymanski, Joe Cirigliano, Clint Burton, Milan Tyler, Rocky Powell, Rodney Powell, James Perry and Michelle Underwood.

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