| Cleanup
plan offers twist
By Clair Goodwin
Opinion Page Editor
Here's an unusual twist to cleaning up the neighborhoods
and business districts of Joplin: Get artists involved in
developing art forms or "treasures" from the trash
collected. If it can spark a sense of community pride in
the way Joplin appears to visitors -- and to ourselves --
then the concept of a "Trash & Treasure Fall Cleanup"
on Saturday will be well worth the effort and trigger
a positive response among residents and visitors.
Cleanup programs have come and gone. Some have been successful
and others, well, less so. But Joplin is a growing, vibrant
city -- the retail, medical and transportation hub of a
large Tri-State region -- and should present its best face
to the thousands of visitors that it attracts daily.
The Saturday program will be the first of what is being
seen as a series of "Rejuvenate Joplin" approaches
undertaken by the city of Joplin, Spiva Center for the Arts
and The Joplin Globe. Several neighborhoods have been chosen
for a cleanup effort. Teams from the city, Spiva and the
Globe will participate, and other organizations are being
invited to take part.
A news release signed by Mark Rohr, Joplin city manager;
Jo Mueller, executive director of the Spiva Center for the
Arts; and Dan Chiodo, president and publisher of The Joplin
Globe, said that the groups have teamed for a mission "to
promote community pride and enhancement through programs
and services that inspire, educate and assist residents
in making Joplin a better place for all."
The unusual aspect of this innovative, ambitious program
to clean up the city and get residents involved is that
gathered items selected by the artists for art sculptures
will be displayed throughout the city. In essence, Joplin
business areas and neighborhoods will have their own creative
representation, as seen through the eyes and molded by the
hands of local and area artists.
We would hope the "Trash & Treasure Fall Cleanup"
not only is successful, but is a springboard for bigger
and better ways to promote and improve the quality of life
in Joplin.
| Thank
you for your continued support |
|
|
