Clean Communities Program Returns to Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY – In an effort to uphold the cleanliness of resort neighborhoods, the City of Atlantic City Department of Public Works has announced for the third straight year its Clean Communities program.

Crews from the Public Works Department will be cleaning an Atlantic City Ward each day (Monday to Wednesday) throughout the Summer. Along with cleaning, the initiative is encouraging residents to do their part to keep their neighborhoods clean by promoting personal responsibility through education and community involvement

Mayor Marty Small, Sr., Atlantic City 5^th Ward Councilman Muhammad “Anjum” Zia, City department directors, students at Sovereign Avenue School and the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) all participated in the first cleanup of the Summer at Pete Pallitto Field. The Public Works Department will setup a table to hand out reusable bags, trash pickers and gloves to residents. This will present a great opportunity to  educate the public on why it’s important to take care of their community, while giving people the tools they may need to get involved.

“The best Public Works Department in the world is at it again this Summer, and I am extremely proud of the work they do,” said Mayor Small. “We prioritize Public Works in Atlantic City, and that commitment pays off through efforts like this one."

From now through the end of September, The Clean Communities program will take place each week, Monday- Wednesday in a different Atlantic City Ward each of those days.

“Once again, we look forward to our Public Works members working with the community to make Summer 2024 a clean and safe one,” said City of Atlantic City Director of Public Works Crystal Lewis. “Our department will be out there daily to clean up our parks and streets, but we need the residents and businesses to do their parts as well, which is why this initiative was created. Cleaning up our city will only be effective if everyone works together to keep it that way.”

New this year, Public Works crews will also be set up every other Saturday in the different neighborhoods in hopes of getting more participation from the public.

“Our goal with this program is to get residents to take pride in their community,” said Department of Public Works Clean Communities Coordinator Angela Brooks-Pittman. “It’s our job as the Public Works Department to clean, but the people of Atlantic City need to show that they care about their neighborhoods as well, so we want everyone to get involved. Something as simple as throwing a wrapper in the trash can make a big difference.”

Not only can residents make a change in their community but they can also make some money doing it. Residential groups of five or more can adopt at least four blocks during the program and receive $200 a month for the entire group to clean those blocks at least twice a month. More details and applications can be found at www.acnj.gov. Applications can be returned via email at abrooks-pittman@acnj.gov or dropped off at the Public Works Office in room 604 at City Hall, 1301 Bacharach Blvd. Further questions from the community on the initiative can be directed to the Department of Public Works at 609-347-5700.

"I challenge all of our residents to join our crews in these neighborhood cleanups throughout the Summer, as the city will continue to give our Public Works Department and residents the tools needed to ensure this initiative succeeds in keeping Atlantic City clean,” Small said.

(This story was produced as part of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University's South Jersey Information Equity Project fellowship and supported with funding from the Independence Public Media Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and the NJ Civic Information Consortium.)

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