Darlington launches its spring cleaning
Janice Williams and her team clean up along Spring Street. PHOTO BY BOBBY BRYANT
Cleaning up across the street from Darlington High School. PHOTO BY BOBBY BRYANT
In preparation for the spring race on Mother’s Day weekend and the influx of travelers coming through town during the warmer months, the City of Darlington encourages everyone to help clean up our town. “Mayor (Curtis) Boyd and City Council have focused on beautification efforts and basic maintenance efforts around the city, and this represents an extension of that drive to make our town more welcoming,” says Lisa Chalian-Rock, chairwoman of the Beautification Board. On April 17, nearly 40 volunteers came out to kick off the city’s efforts, meeting at the Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce on the Public Square. Some planted flowers at the island in front of the Veterans Memorial, at Liberty Lane, and at City Hall. Volunteers collected more than 14 bags of trash and at least one errant tire. Groups participating included Darlington Garden Club, Mayor Boyd and Mayo Beta Club and Environmental Club. All week the city encouraged residents to get involved whenever their schedules allowed and was providing supplies April 16-24 at the City Administration Building, 410 Pearl St., across from Piggly Wiggly. On April 20, the League of Women Voters took to Pocket Road in Darlington County near the McLeod Darlington office to pitch in, filling eight bags of trash in just a couple of hours. On April 22, in conjunction with Earth Day, the Williamson Park Committee held a litter collection event with the Beautification Board starting at the park entrance on Spring Street from 4-6 p.m. Then on April 23, Manheim Darlington participated, sprucing up the west end on Harry Byrd Highway, Odom Street and Racetrack Road from 1-3 p.m. A Great American Cleanup-style litter collection had been planned from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 24, beginning at 410 Pearl St. But the threat of bad weather forced organizaers to cancel that event. Pepsi of Florence donated drinks and water for volunteers. Palmetto Pride and Keep Darlington County Beautiful provided grabbers, gloves, trash bags and vests for our litter collection efforts.
