MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release 
October 20, 2010   

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John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798
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Plant Pride on Parsons Cleanup EarnsNational Keep America Beautiful First Place Award

The city’s Keep Columbus Beautiful program has earned a national Keep America Beautiful 1^st Place Beautification Award for its Plant Pride On Parsons cleanup event on May 15, 2010. The cleanup drew 239 volunteers who collected 3.5 tons of litter, removed graffiti from 12 locations and planted flowers in 31 painted large flower pots placed permanently placed along Parsons Avenue between East Livingston Avenue and Marion Road.  

“I am so proud of KCB and all the volunteers and organizations who came together with us to show their pride in Parsons Avenue, the spine of Columbus’ South Side,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “Plant Pride On Parsons and the work KCB does with thousands of volunteers every year is making Columbus a greener, more beautiful city.”

Plant Pride On Parsons co-sponsors included Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Parsons Avenue Merchants Association, United Way of Central Ohio/Macy’s Foundation, Ganthers Place, Smith Realty Partners, numerous Parsons Avenue area civic associations and the City’s South Side Neighborhood Pride Center.   

“I joined our residents to unveil these works of art and was moved by the sense of pride and energy in the room that day,” said Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig, chair of the Minority and Business Development Committee.  “There is a real momentum being created by projects such as these, projects that point to better times ahead for Parsons Avenue.”  

Twenty-eight of the painted flower pots placed during Plant Pride On Parsons were decorated by Heart of Ohio Tole Chapter painters; three were decorated by South Side elementary and high school students. Mayor Coleman and South Side area businesses and neighborhood organizations are among the sponsors of the 31 decorated flower pots; an additional 15 decorated flower pots have been placed on Parsons Avenue since the May 15 cleanup, bringing the total to 46 flower pots.

“Heart of Ohio Tole Chapter Members who painted Flower Pots to help Plant Pride on Parsons Avenue is very proud to be a part of this award winning effort” said Phyllis D. Gibbs, CDA and past president of the Heart of Ohio Tole Chapter.  “We pledge our continuing support for this beautification effort to the city of Columbus.”

The fall edition of Plant Pride On Parsons on October 16 attracted 105 volunteers who removed 2.8 tons of litter from along Parsons Avenue between East Livingston Avenue and Marion Road.  

“Plant Pride on Parsons has been a real spark to help get some enthusiasm back on the Avenue,” said Marc Borst, Parsons Avenue Merchants Association president.  “PAMA is proud of this recognition and that so many businesses and community organizations stepped up to support the project.”

KCB won the KAB Beautification Award competing with organizations in 16 other cities in the category of government agencies. The KAB award is the second honor for Plant Pride On Parsons, which earned the Franklin Park Conservatory’s Growing to Green Program 2010 Neighborhood Improvement Project of the Year Award in August.  

Keep Columbus Beautiful is based in the Department of Public Service.  Each year, KCB works with neighborhood groups, businesses and community organizations which provide volunteers to clean litter and graffiti and beautify neighborhoods.  This year, through October 20, KCB has worked with 8,505 volunteers to clean 166.9 tons of litter from Columbus neighborhoods.  In 2009, nearly 9,900 volunteers cleaned 200.1 tons of litter across the city.  KCB provides trash bags, gloves, litter grabbers and other cleanup equipment at event.

Plant Pride On Parsons Fact Sheet

• During the May 15 Plant Pride On Parsons event, 31 hand-painted flower pots were placed on Parsons Avenue between East Livingston Avenue and Marion Road. 
• 28 of the pots were decorated by the Heart of Ohio Tole Chapter painters
• Three of the pots were decorated by students at Parsons Avenue Elementary, Stewart Elementary and South High School
• 15 additional decorated flower pots have been placed on Parsons Avenue since the May 15 event, bringing the total to 46 flower pots

Sponsors of the 46 hand-painted decorative pots (31 of the pots were placed on Parsons Avenue during the May 15 cleanup):

• Keep Columbus Beautiful is based in the Department of Public Service

• In KCB-sponsored cleanups, neighborhood groups, businesses and community organizations provide volunteers to clean litter and graffiti and beautify neighborhood
• In 2010, through October 20, KCB has worked with 8,505 volunteers to clean 166.9 tons of litter from Columbus neighborhoods
• In 2009, nearly 9,900 volunteers cleaned 200.1 tons of litter across the city
• KCB provides trash bags, gloves, litter grabbers and other cleanup equipment at event

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