Fairfield Beautification Commission holds Street Sweepers Ball, plans Spring Planting event

FAIRFIELD – The Fairfield Beautification Commission had a terrific turnout for its Street Sweepers Ball on Saturday, April 13.

The event has become an annual tradition where the commission gathers volunteers to clean up downtown Fairfield by pulling weeds, picking up trash, and tidying up the garden nodes around the square. Commission member Deborah Williamson estimated that about 100 people came out this year, which was way more than the group expected.

“The night before, we had 25 people committed,” she said. “On Saturday, we had car loads of families show up including high school organizations, Girl Scouts and a lot of other groups. Some folks in the neighborhood saw what we were doing and were inspired to pitch in since we had gloves and tools.”

The Fairfield Beautification Commission maintains 40 garden nodes around the square, and they were all raked and weeded. Williamson said the volunteers gathered all the yard waste and put it into 30 giant garbage bags that were transported to the city’s mulch pile.

“We even had 25 children involved including one as young as 3,” Williamson said. “I was really happy to see parents teaching their children about the value of community service.”

Williamson thanked Fairfield Pizza Hut and Mia’s Pizza for donating pizza to the volunteers. The Fairfield Parks and Rec Department donated the use of its brooms and rakes. The street department let the group borrow two big leaf blowers, too.

SPRING PLANTING 2024

Those who missed the Street Sweepers Ball will have another chance to help out with a Fairfield Beautification Commission project when the group hosts “Spring Planting 2024” on May 18. Williamson said the group will plant in all of the downtown nodes and flower containers like those in front of the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.

“We’ll plant several pick-up trucks full of shrubs and perennials,” Williamson said. “We’ll be amending the soil with rich compost. We’ll have free pizza again, because you’ve got to feed the people.”

The Spring Planting event will begin at 8 a.m. and last until about 2 p.m. Williamson said volunteers can spend as much time there as they’d like.

“Some volunteers [at the Street Sweepers Ball] only worked for an hour, and we still really appreciated that,” Williamson said. “The ones who stay the whole time, I get that, too. I just want to live downtown and do nothing but love the gardens.”

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com

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