ESCANABA — Spring time is traditionally the time to sweep out the dust and cobwebs that have gathered over the long winter and start the new season with everything clean and neat.

Downtown Escanaba has been doing that for years. For more than 20 years the Downtown Development Authority has been setting aside one day and encouraging community residents and business owners to come downtown and help clean up after winter. This day of renewal has taken root and grown into a full fledge annual event managed by the new non-profit organization, Esky Cleanup.

As with all successful grass roots campaigns, this started with a few people reaching out to downtown businesses and Escanaba residents, encouraging them to help clean up their blocks. They talked with many people and the work bee evolved into a real event. That is the essence of community spirit and community pride; people coming together to make their place a better place to live.

Today there is Esky Cleanup, a non-profit organization, with a formalized board of directors and governing bylaws. The board is made up of downtown business owners, the DDA and the City of Escanaba. This year they’ve written and received a grant from the Community Foundation to begin the process of accumulating the tools, rakes, broom, gloves, and trash bags necessary for the clean-up

The sprucing up of down town has spread and now includes Lincoln Road up to 2nd Ave N, and Ludington Park. Organizers expect 300-400 people helping with this massive cleanup effort.

Most will register their teams ahead of time, but sign ups will be available beginning at 9AM and anyone interested is encouraged to come down and be a part of the cleanup.

This year’s Esky Cleanup will begin and end at the Market Place on Ludington. Teams will be dispersed to their cleanup location and will be provided gloves and garbage bags. Organizers ask teams to bring their own rakes and brooms. Once done they will return to the Market Place for picnic, door prizes and music. The days schedule is: Check in 9AM, Cleaning 10-Noon, Picnic – noon

For more information you can check out their Facebook Page – Esky Cleanup 2018, their webpage, eskycleanup.com or call (906)212-5555.

Community Pride – Community Wide – Keep Escanaba Clean.

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Mollie Larson is part of the staff of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce