On Saturday, April 16, at 9 a.m., you can help make Main Street cleaner and more beautiful. Residents For a More Beautiful Port Washington’s annual Clean Green Main Street event starts at the LIRR Station, where volunteers will receive shovels, rakes, mulch, garbage bags, plants and brooms. Volunteers will spend an hour or so spreading mulch, planting and cleaning tree beds, gardens and the sidewalks along Main Street from boulevard to bay.
Teens that are dedicated to the environment have formed a Green Team Student Leaders group. “What makes the 2016 Main Street Cleanup different from past years is that our goal is to have more teenagers participate to demonstrate their devotion to and care for the environment, along with working with young families and serving as role models for elementary school students,” Student Leader Sophie Germain said. Fellow Leader Daniel Gersh added, “We have made an effort to launch a social media campaign to make people aware of the event and why it is so important.”
Last year, Residents introduced beautiful teak planters along Port’s shopping district. Each planter was “adopted” through donations for purchase of the planter and maintenance of its plantings throughout the growing seasons. “The immediate success of this initiative was incredible last year,” Residents Executive Director Mindy Germain said. “We look forward to adding new teak planters and beautiful seasonal flowers to more of Port’s shopping districts this year.”
A wonderful addition to the community was the unveiling of the Dejana Foundation garden at the LIRR station. The plantings will increase in size each year and will be joined during the Clean Green Main Street event by more annuals and perennials for an even lusher display.
For the first time, music will be played at the LIRR Station. “By adding music at the railroad station, we hope to create an even greater community vibe,” Student Leader Matt Marx said. Children are encouraged to participate with adult supervision and no preregistration is needed. For information, contact Residents at info@pwresidents.org.
