By Sam Elliott
The third annual Keep Fishers Beautiful day of beautification and community service projects is set for April 16, with multiple opportunities around the city offering volunteers a chance to get their hands dirty to, as the name implies, keep Fishers looking good.
Since its inception in 2014, KFB has seen more than 400 volunteers come out to various city locations for unique service projects.
“The initiative really came to be as our code enforcement team began buckling down some on citing violations,” Fishers marketing and public relations manager Casey Cawthon said. “As we notified residents that they may be violating a code, we wanted to provide them with resources should they not be able to meet the code without some assistance. From that idea, Keep Fishers Beautiful was born.”
This year, the KFB Neighborhood Blitz, sponsored by Stratosphere Quality, will see volunteers lending a hand with beautification and landscaping initiatives at the Orchard at Sunblest subdivision from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“In both of the neighborhoods that have previously hosted an event, Sunblest Countryview and the Orchard at Sunblest, we’ve found that this initiative really gets neighbors talking and supporting each other,” Cawthon said. “So, as much as the event has helped address property maintenance and overall appearance, it’s also simultaneously worked to help build community between neighbors.”
Also part of KFB, the Spring Service Day, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, is based at Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve. Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., volunteers will be used to clear invasive species — garlic mustard and bush honeysuckle — from the park.
April 16 is also the city’s Spring Recycle Day, hosted at Billericay Park from 8 to 10 a.m., where residents can bring and safely dispose of items like electronics, metals, batteries, paints and other liquids that require proper disposal.
The 2015 Fall Recycle Day saw Fishers officials collect:
- 18,000 pounds of old metals, mowers, bikes and grills
- 1,65- pounds of fertilizer and pesticides
- 897 pounds of old batteries
- 2,475 gallons of paint
- 412 gallons of used oil
- 254 gallons of flammable liquid
