Northside, region even prettier today

The lower Northside business district received a fresh coat of paint as part of the nationwide Great American Cleanup on Saturday.

In addition to painting 12 building facades along Hamilton and Spring Grove avenues, an estimated 150 volunteers painted parking meters, poles and bike racks, performed landscaping work and cleaned up litter.

The effort was coordinated by Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, with assistance from the Cincinnati Parks Department, Give Back Cincinnati and neighborhood volunteers.

City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. kicked off the day with a pep talk.

As part of the city’s Neighborhood Enhancement Program, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful has been working within the community for the past six months.

“Whatever it takes to make the city better, we’ll do,” Rodriguez says.

The Northside event was one of 90 held in the Greater Cincinnati, involving more than 5,000 volunteers.

Other projects included a 600-volunteer cleanup of Covington, the planting of flowers and trees at Kay’s Garden in Pendleton, and, in honor of Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin, the planting of 4,000 flowers at Liberty Garden in Eden Park.

Title sponsor for the events was the Great American Insurance Group, with 25 other organizations on board.

“There’s no way we would be able to accomplish this without them,” Rodriguez says.

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source:
Photography by Keving LeMaster