justin.schneider@heraldbulletin.com

Cleaning up Anderson’s image means more than merely collecting trash.

It means fostering participation, forging new partnerships.

Anderson’s Citywide Spring Cleanup on Saturday took a multi-faceted approach to cleaning up the city’s image.

For starters, Kim Townsend of Anderson Community Development said more people participated in the cleanup than ever before.

“We’re going to have a record-breaking number of volunteers,” she said. “We’ve got three churches bringing 50 apiece to go along with youth groups and local civic organizations. So many people want to participate.”

The citywide cleanup began as the Westside Neighborhood Cleanup, organized 22 years ago by the Rev. J.T. Menifee. Since then, the cleanup program has expanded to include all of Anderson.

Saturday’s cleanup, which lasted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., saw the responsible disposal of hazardous materials, a green-minded treatment of organic matter and a planting of seeds for the future.

Townsend said volunteers planted 10 trees along Third Street between John and Jackson streets, strengthening Anderson as a recognized “tree city.” Another group of volunteers coordinated with the Anderson Fire Department to scrape and repaint city fire hydrants using a color-coded system.

The Anderson Street Department collected addresses all week for pickup of heavy items, and the list grew longer as Saturday wore on.

Over at the city Yard and Garden Recycling Center, 2000 W. 8th St., yard waste including tree limbs and shrubbery was accepted at no charge. Anderson also set up a free collection site at Athletic Park, where waste materials of all kinds were deposited in 20 Dumpsters, provided by Best Way Disposal.

Appliances including dishwashers, refrigerators and washing machines were dropped off at a designated location, while truckloads of used tires were taken to another area.

Robert Himes heard of the collection from a friend and made the trip from Ridgeville, east of Muncie.

“My dad’s got around 200 tires,” Himes said, his black Ford Ranger waiting to unload. “He collects trash. He grew up in the Depression so he doesn’t throw anything away.”

Himes said he used to take tires to a collection center in Muncie, but the facility is no longer open.