Keep El Dorado Beautiful is working with Clean Harbors and other local groups to coordinate a community cleanup in Ward 1.
The event has tentatively been set for Oct. 6, making Ward 1 the last of the city’s four wards to organize a community cleanup for the year.
KEB issued a call for each ward to host a cleanup event, one per quarter, in 2018.
The last one was held Sept. 15 in Ward 2 and drew the most volunteers so far, said KEB president Janis Van Hook.
KEB focuses on litter, recycling and beautification and serves as a resource to help educate El Dorado residents about the three focus areas and to assist them in helping to keep the city clean.
To that end, KEB has asked El Dorado City Council members to take the reins in coordinating the quarterly cleanups in their respective wards, refining its previous approach of hosting biannual, citywide cleanups — one in the spring and the other in the fall.
Van Hook said KEB is reaching out to groups and individuals in Ward 1 to help coordinate the cleanup there. Details about the event are forthcoming.
As with the other three ward cleanups, a cash incentive of $300 will be offered to volunteer teams with at least 10 people.
Clean Harbors launched the initiative this year to encourage more people to get involved in cleaning up El Dorado. Dan Roblee, Clean Harbors general manager and KEB member, presented to idea to the group earlier this year.
Team members must sign in at start of the cleanup, and all members must be present and participate. The work must also be completed during the scheduled time of the cleanup.
Cash awards will be presented immediately following the cleanup.
With the tentative date set, the Ward 1 cleanup will be counted among major cleanup events that are taking place statewide as part of the Great Arkansas Cleanup, which is held each September and October.
KEB is also calling on residents and businesses to spruce up the city in preparation for MusicFest XXXI, which is set for Oct. 18 - 20 in downtown El Dorado.
Concerts will get under way Oct. 18 in the Murphy Arts District entertainment complex with featured performers Sheila E, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Bret Michaels, Gucci Mane, Morris Day and the Time, Toby Keith, Justin Moore, Lita Ford, Sammy Hagar and the Circle and more.
Festival attractions — including a 70-foot tall Ferris wheel, four-man bungee jumper, zip line, mechanical bull, Nascar simulator, pit-stop challenge, jousting, a cannonball blaster, laser tag, KidsWorld and food and arts and crafts vendors — will kick off Oct. 19 on the Union County Courthouse square.
City crews began sprucing up the downtown area a couple of weeks ago, and Van Hook said KEB would like for the effort to go citywide to welcome visitors who are expected in town during the three-day period.
“We’re asking them to clean up, pick up, plant or do whatever they need to do. Company is coming,” she advised.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].