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Group embarks on 'formidable cleanup' in Lindenwald neighborhood

City employees Stacey Dudas of Hamilton, left, and Karen Wittmer of Fairfield throw out trash Saturday during the first action event for the city's Sense of Place committee. The area targeted was the city's Lindenwald neighborhood, cleaning up streets and alleys two blocks east and west of Pleasant Avenue. The Sense of Place committee works to build strong vibrant neighborhoods and use those strengths in other neighborhoods in an effort to build a strong city from within.

Staff photo by Samantha Grier City employees Stacey Dudas of Hamilton, left, and Karen Wittmer of Fairfield throw out trash Saturday during the first action event for the city's Sense of Place committee. The area targeted was the city's Lindenwald neighborhood, cleaning up streets and alleys two blocks east and west of Pleasant Avenue. The Sense of Place committee works to build strong vibrant neighborhoods and use those strengths in other neighborhoods in an effort to build a strong city from within.

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer 10:12 PM Saturday, February 11, 2012

HAMILTON — More than 50 residents from around the city braved chilly temperatures to clean up the Lindenwald neighborhood and nearly filled up a large city dump truck Saturday morning.

The cleanup was first immediate action step of the Sense of Place committee.

The Hamilton City Council committee includes various stakeholders in the community that includes city officials, council members and business leaders.

Sense of Place is also a component of the city’s overall strategic plan to build each of Hamilton’s 20 distinct neighborhoods a neighborhood at a time in order to make a strong and vibrant city. The idea is to build on the strengths of each neighborhood

Two weeks ago, Councilwoman Kathleen Klink, who chairs the committee that has been meeting since August, along with other city leaders, wanted to keep the momentum going follow a successful neighborhood meeting last month.

On Saturday, despite the frigid temperatures, that momentum was evident as people checked into the Lindenwald Station or Heaven Sent Enterprises, both Pleasant Avenue businesses.

After signing in, people were given bags and gloves to clean up the trash in the alleys and streets two blocks east and west of Pleasant Avenue.

Chris Lawson, a resident of the Mercantile Lofts downtown, and Sean Pederson of Tylersville Road, were picking up trash along Benninghofen Street.

“It’s important to keep Hamilton looking great and clean for the people who decide to make their homes and put their businesses here,” Lawson said. “We should be supporting those businesses and make sure those areas around homes and businesses are looking great.”

Lawson said “it’s vitally important to get people together and create a sense of community because it gives a better connection to Hamilton. It also helps community members to better understand the community and its unique parts.”

“It’s the sum of the whole to go through the neighborhoods to better Hamilton as a result,” Pederson said.

Amy Rogers, a Pleasant Avenue resident, was further down the Benninghofen with her five children picking up trash.

“It gets messy and I look at it when I walk to Heaven Sent,” she said. “People throw things in the alley all of the time. It would be nice to be able to take a walk without seeing all of this trash.”

Rogers’ younger children Hannah, 8, and Bethany, 5, said they were a little cold Saturday morning, but they were having fun.

“I think (the clean up) is very good,” Rogers said. “I wish people would take more responsibility for the community they live in.”

Rogers and her children also cleaned up the alley behind her residence on Pleasant Avenue.

Councilman Timothy Nabb, said it was “a very formidable cleanup, even in this bitter weather.” He was cleaning up on Benninghofen. Vice Mayor Carla Fiehrer and Klink were also picking up trash along Pleasant Avenue and a few side streets.

Lindenwald resident Frank Downie was at the clean up along Benninghofen and said he usually goes out for walks on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

“I’m enjoying it,” he said. It’s been kind of fun.”

Eric Abney, president of city’s firefighter union, IAFF Local 20, was picking up trash with Fiehrer and Klink along Pleasant Avenue near Weller.

Abney said as a public servant, participating in the clean up is also serving the community and helping to make it better.

“This is a great neighborhood and has a great tradition in Hamilton,” Abney said. “Anything to help out is a positive for the community. This is a good step in the right direction.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4504 or Ed.Richter@coxinc.com.

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