96-04-10 High on Pride Clean Up is April 27 HIGH ON PRIDE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY CLEANUP SET FOR APRIL 27 COLUMBUS -- In the season of Earth Day and Arbor Day, The Ohio State University has chosen Saturday, April 27, to hold its fourth "High on Pride" University Community Cleanup. Some 2,000 Ohio State students, faculty and staff are expected to join area residents in cleaning the neighborhood north of campus. The cleanup kick-off will be on Friday, April 26, at Medary Elementary School, 2500 Medary St., at 10 a.m. Ohio State President Gordon Gee will be joined by Ohio State students, community members and Medary students in planting a Butterfly Garden, a 1,200-foot lifecycle habitat with 300 plantings to support butterflies in all their growth stages. High on Pride's first three efforts -- in October 1994 and May and October 1995 -- removed more than 151 tons of trash and litter from the areas east, north and south of the campus and involved some 3,000 volunteers. "The measure of success of the cleanup has become the number of volunteers who joined to create a clean and safe community," said Tina Love, director of projects for the Office of Student Affairs. "Our goal is to remove over 100 tons of trash and recyclables from the area, and to continue our effort to embrace the community around the campus and build partnerships to address issues confronting the community in terms of safety." Volunteers will work in one of five, two-hour shifts: 9 to 11 a.m.; 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.; 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.; 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.; and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., to pick up litter, remove bulk trash, sweep streets and sidewalks, and collect recyclables in the streets, alleys and other public areas in the neighborhood north of campus. Initiated by Gee as part of the university's ongoing effort to improve the quality of life in the areas surrounding the Columbus campus, the cleanup has become a biannual event that creates a sense of community within offices and organizations on campus. "We've had a tremendous response from people on campus that lets us know this is something that they support and would like to see continued," Love said. This spring's project area is bounded on the north by Parkway Drive, the south by Lane Avenue and the east by the Conrail tracks. The western boundary is the Olentangy River. The Clean Up area has been divided into 25 sections, each to be cleaned by teams of 10 or more volunteers per shift. Volunteers will report to the registration area at the Jesse Owens North Recreation Center, 2151 Neil Ave. for their assignments. All volunteers will receive free T-shirts and will be served coffee, juice, donuts and soft drinks. Radio station CD101 will broadcast from the registration area all morning, providing music and public address announcements. The City of Columbus' Refuse Collection Division is providing trash bags and will have extra trash pickups. The university's Office of Physical Facilities is providing workers and equipment to remove bulk items such as old furniture and appliances. The High on Pride project is co-sponsored by The Ohio State University Hospitals, Campus Partners for Community Urban Redevelopment Inc., Holiday Inn on the Lane, College Traditions, CD101, Top Team and Campus Expressions. To volunteer, please call the DIRT line at 292-DIRT. # Contact: Tracy Turner, University Communications, (614) 688-3682. [Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu) Wed, 10 Apr 1996 15:39:24 -0400] All documents are the responsibility of their originator.