by David Fields
The Town of Signal Mountain and the Signal Mountain Lions Club have partnered to bring Sparkle Day back to Signal Mountain. Sparkle Day is a designated day when Signal Mountain residents come together to collect trash from the city’s streets and byways.
“This is the first time since 1988 that an organized community-wide, multi-volunteer organizational effort has been conducted to clean up Signal Mountain,” said Councilmember Bob Spalding. “We look forward to incorporating Sparkle Day as a yearly event and a function of a soon-to-be created ‘Beautification Committee’ by the town council in the future.”
The organized cleanup will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, and conclude with a celebration at Althaus Park at noon. The celebration will include awards, music, food and games and will end at 2 p.m.
If you want to participate in Sparkle Day, meet at Althaus Park, located behind the Signal Mountain Country Club at 809 James Blvd. at 9 a.m. The volunteers will then split into groups and canvass “clean-up zones,” which have been designated by the Sparkle Day organizers. The initial zones will consist of Taft Highway, Shackleford Ridge Road, Shoal Creek, Lena Givens Park, Rainbow Lake and James Boulevard. Once groups and cleanup zones are assigned, participants will travel in their own vehicles or carpool to the zones. As more residents participate in Sparkle Day additional zones will be added.
“We hope a lot of folks come out and join the fun and festivities, as we help to clean up our mountain byways. In addition, we’re asking the people of Signal Mountain and Walden to form street teams in their own neighborhoods, in order to clean up their general vicinity,” said Spalding.
According to Spalding, the area in most need of cleanup is Shackleford Ridge Road.
“We would suggest to park at the Nolan Elementary School and either walk toward Hidden Brook Trail entrance via Timberlinks, or walk from Nolan to Anderson Pike,” said Spalding. “If you want to find the most trash, these two areas are the worst.”
Organizers are advising participants to wear gloves and use pick up sticks or grabbing tongs to prevent hand or back injuries, as well as to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to reduce the chance of injury. Participants should be prepared to encounter sharp metal, broken glass, poison ivy, insects and uneven terrain. Cleanup volunteers should also be mindful of snakes, which are becoming more active as the days and nights are getting warmer.
Children ages 4 to 11 who want to participate must be accompanied by a parent or relative. Children 12 to 16 will need to turn in a permission slip/disclaimer signed by a parent or legal guardian to participate individually without a parent or responsible adult. A waiver form will be posted online at the Signal Mountain Sparkle Day Facebook page.
Mayor Dick Gee is glad this tradition is being revived. “I am delighted that we will once again of Sparkle Day,” he said. I recall Sparkle Days in the past being a very happy time. Everybody helping out to make our community look beautiful … It was a great example of civic pride and participation. We should acknowledge Councilman Dr. Bob Spalding, the Signal Mountain Lions Club and the Mountain Stewards for their efforts restoring this wonderful tradition”
For additional info, email Signal Mountain Town Hall or follow Sparkle Day on Facebook.
The Town of Signal Mountain and the Signal Mountain Lions Club have partnered to bring Sparkle Day back to Signal Mountain. Sparkle Day is a designated day when Signal Mountain residents come together to collect trash from the city’s streets and byways.
“This is the first time since 1988 that an organized community-wide, multi-volunteer organizational effort has been conducted to clean up Signal Mountain,” said Councilmember Bob Spalding. “We look forward to incorporating Sparkle Day as a yearly event and a function of a soon-to-be created ‘Beautification Committee’ by the town council in the future.”
The organized cleanup will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, and conclude with a celebration at Althaus Park at noon. The celebration will include awards, music, food and games and will end at 2 p.m.
If you want to participate in Sparkle Day, meet at Althaus Park, located behind the Signal Mountain Country Club at 809 James Blvd. at 9 a.m. The volunteers will then split into groups and canvass “clean-up zones,” which have been designated by the Sparkle Day organizers. The initial zones will consist of Taft Highway, Shackleford Ridge Road, Shoal Creek, Lena Givens Park, Rainbow Lake and James Boulevard. Once groups and cleanup zones are assigned, participants will travel in their own vehicles or carpool to the zones. As more residents participate in Sparkle Day additional zones will be added.
“We hope a lot of folks come out and join the fun and festivities, as we help to clean up our mountain byways. In addition, we’re asking the people of Signal Mountain and Walden to form street teams in their own neighborhoods, in order to clean up their general vicinity,” said Spalding.
According to Spalding, the area in most need of cleanup is Shackleford Ridge Road.
“We would suggest to park at the Nolan Elementary School and either walk toward Hidden Brook Trail entrance via Timberlinks, or walk from Nolan to Anderson Pike,” said Spalding. “If you want to find the most trash, these two areas are the worst.”
Organizers are advising participants to wear gloves and use pick up sticks or grabbing tongs to prevent hand or back injuries, as well as to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to reduce the chance of injury. Participants should be prepared to encounter sharp metal, broken glass, poison ivy, insects and uneven terrain. Cleanup volunteers should also be mindful of snakes, which are becoming more active as the days and nights are getting warmer.
Children ages 4 to 11 who want to participate must be accompanied by a parent or relative. Children 12 to 16 will need to turn in a permission slip/disclaimer signed by a parent or legal guardian to participate individually without a parent or responsible adult. A waiver form will be posted online at the Signal Mountain Sparkle Day Facebook page.
Mayor Dick Gee is glad this tradition is being revived. “I am delighted that we will once again of Sparkle Day,” he said. I recall Sparkle Days in the past being a very happy time. Everybody helping out to make our community look beautiful … It was a great example of civic pride and participation. We should acknowledge Councilman Dr. Bob Spalding, the Signal Mountain Lions Club and the Mountain Stewards for their efforts restoring this wonderful tradition”
For additional info, email Signal Mountain Town Hall or follow Sparkle Day on Facebook.
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