Wayne Main Street Announces Annual Clean Up Day

The civic organization Wayne Main Street (WMS) is hosting their annual Clean-Up Day in downtown Wayne on Saturday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. They invite community members of all ages to join their friends and neighbors in making downtown Wayne even cleaner. For planning purposes, it is requested that interested volunteers register with Wayne Main Street at http://www.downtownwayne.org or by calling 734-629-6822. Volunteers who show up without registering will be greatly appreciated as well. Light refreshments will be provided early in the day and pizza will be provided for lunch, courtesy of Mark Chevrolet of Wayne. All volunteers will receive a T-shirt of the event.

WMS Director Lori Morrow says the Clean-Up Day first started in 2014 and has been a great success each year, bringing volunteers both from the city of Wayne and nearby communities. Last year the event was pushed back into September due to COVID-19 and safety precautions were in place. Social distancing and masks will be part of this year’s event and Morrow says, “It’s going to be as safe as last year’s-- and a success.”

New to this year’s Clean-Up Day is WMS’s partnership with the Rotary Club of Wayne and the Friends of the Rouge to clean up both the streets of downtown Wayne and paths along the Rouge River as it runs through the city. Morrow says when registering, volunteers can indicate if they prefer to work in the downtown area or along the river. “We’re excited to be working with the Friends of the Rouge and the Rotary, especially this year, so we anticipate over 150 people,” says Morrow.

Rotary Club of Wayne President Laura Mack says her club had intended to participate in the Great Lakes Watershed Project and decided that participating in the clean-up day effort along the Rouge River was a good way to do just that. “It’s been a wonderful partnership,” she says. “Wayne Main Street is just an amazing organization with extremely dedicated volunteers—people who give up their time to make Wayne a better place to live.” Mack expects nearly 20 Rotarians to participate.

A retired district judge and Wayne resident, Mack says people are looking for something to do outdoors after being shut up inside due to COVID-19. “This would be a great opportunity to get everybody out, pitching in together, and doing something positive,” she says.

Volunteers should wear comfortable clothes and bring work gloves and tools for raking and picking up trash. Trash bags will be provided. Volunteers can begin meeting at Goudy Park, located at 3355 S. Wayne Road, at 9 a.m. In the event of inclement weather, the event will take place on Saturday, May 1, same time, same location. Find out more about Wayne Main Street at http://www.facebook.com/WayneMainStreet.