Downtown Akron Partnership has acquired another tool in its war against dirt and debris on the sidewalks of downtown Akron.
The Partnership’s third Green Machine hit the streets Tuesday. The original unit recently succumbed to the rigors of collecting more than 150,000 gallons of debris from downtown sidewalks since its purchase in 1998.
“Operation Neat Streets is one of our most visible functions,” said Kimberlee McKee, president of the Partnership. “Our annual surveys of property and business owners, downtown employees and visitors all point to the success of Operation Neat Streets to making downtown more attractive and inviting.”
This Green Machine is unique in that…well, it’s not green. But the new silver-colored sidewalk sweeper is more powerful, says Operation Neat Streets supervisor Darrell Stamps.
“It’s faster, has a more powerful engine and will pick up more efficiently,” said Stamps, “and it’s got a bigger debris capacity that will allow us to go three times farther without coming back to unload.”
The Neat Streets crew, clad in bright neon-yellow shirts, clean and sanitize Main Street sidewalks, including bus shelters and other high volume locations, daily and have a weekly route schedule throughout the 42-block downtown Special Improvement District.
For a close-up look at the new sweeper, and your photo riding it, drop by the Partnership’s lunchtime summer kickoff concert Friday at Lock 3 Park from 11–2.
The Operation Neat Streets team is funded primarily through the Downtown Akron Special Improvement District and does not clean private property or streets. Street cleaning is done by Akron City Services.
The Partnership also expanded its planter program this spring, adding six additional planters to the downtown landscape. Each of the 42 hand-crafted planters depicts a different Akron scene.
A nonprofit organization, Downtown Akron Partnership's mission is to promote and enhance the cultural, artistic, recreational, and commercial vitality of the downtown Akron area. Since its inception in 1995, the Partnership has been a catalyst for enhancing the downtown environment with programs such as First Night Akron, Operation Neat Streets, and comprehensive marketing and branding campaigns.
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