By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
BGSU students often get trashed for not being good neighbors to full-time city residents. In an effort to clean up their reputations and their neighborhoods at the same time, an Adopt a Block program is being started with the help of the City-University Relations Commission.
Danielle Parker, vice president of the Undergraduate Student Government at Bowling Green State University, said the program will help students connect with the community.
“This is a new and exciting way for students to give back, besides dropping off some canned goods and walking away,” Parker said.
The program will work somewhat like the larger scale “Adopt a Highway” effort. Ten “blocks” have been established by the City-University Relations Commission. Student groups will be asked to adopt an area then head out once a month and pick up trash in the medians.
The trash will then be disposed of in the dumpsters behind the city fire station and electric division on Thurstin and Court streets.
Map showing 10 blocks up for adoption.
The 10 “blocks” up for adoption are:
- North Enterprise from East Wooster to Frazee Avenue.
- North Summit from East Wooster to Frazee Avenue.
- North Prospect from East Wooster to Frazee Avenue.
- East Court Street from North Prospect to Thurstin Avenue.
- Pike Street from North Prospect to Thurstin Avenue.
- Ridge Street from North Prospect to Thurstin Avenue.
- Merry Street from North Prospect to Thurstin Avenue.
- Reed Street from North Prospect to Thurstin Avenue.
- Area bordered by Wooster, Biddle, Clough and South College.
- Area bordered by Wooster, South Enterprise, Clough and South Prospect.
“Students will go out and take care of that block,” Parker explained to the City-University Relations Commission Tuesday evening.
Each student group will have a community member contact, according to Julie Broadwell, a member of the commission.
A “soft launch” of the program is planned for April, with the official start to be this fall when students arrive back to campus.
If the program proves successful, with students showing commitment, the city could create signage recognizing the work of the cleanup organizations, according to Joe Fawcett, assistant municipal administrator.
“It’s important that citizens see student organizations are picking up trash. You get beat up all the time for trash,” said Rev. Tom Mellott, a member of the commission.
