PRESS RELEASE

 

For Immediate Release:                                                                                      Contact: 415-554-6926

July 23, 2010

DPW WRAPS UP SUMMER SWEEP EVENT AT THE WHARF

MORE THAN 300 VOLUNTEERS REMOVED HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF LITTER 

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA –The Department of Public Works (DPW), city agencies and area businesses wrapped up Summer Sweep a Fisherman’s Wharf, an extensive weeklong public and private weeklong cleaning program that beautified and reinvigorated the heavily traveled neighborhoods in and around PIER 39 during the height of San Francisco’s summer tourist season. More than 300 volunteers came out to the cleaning and greening activities.

“San Francisco is a world class destination and our volunteers are vital to the sustainability and beauty of this City,” said Ed Reiskin, the Director of the Department of Public Works. “We look forward to continuing our partnerships with the community to ensure our streets are safe, clean, and attractive for everyone.” 

The “Summer Sweep at the Wharf” cleanup event was the fourth in a series of cleanup programs aimed at supporting important merchant corridors during difficult economic times. The cleanups keep busy streets clean and inviting for residents, visitors and shoppers during times when they are used most. 

“The success of this event was its ability to bring the community together to take pride in their neighborhoods, and in a few hours time, make considerable impacts that make San Francisco a better place to live,” said Mohammed Nuru, Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works. “San Francisco spends tens of millions of dollars each year cleaning the city, and the work and hours from each individual volunteer shows that a little bit can go a long way toward keeping the community beautiful.”

Volunteers from nearby businesses, youth from DPW’s Summer Apprenticeship Program, Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District, and the Port of San Francisco and the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) performed various cleaning and greening tasks in districts two and three. They took care of trees, removed graffiti, picked up litter, painted curbs, and gave litter receptacles a facelift with fresh paint. Steam cleaning was also completed as part of this weeklong cleanup. At this clean-up event, volunteers:

• Picked up and removed 180 bags of litter; weighing 2,150 lbs total;
• Abated and painted over 20,000 square feet of graffiti on public property; 
• Provided steam cleaning at Bay Street, North Point and Beach Street;
• Installed decomposed granite on 50 tree basins throughout the North Beach & Fisherman’s Wharf area;
• Removed over 5,470 pounds of green waste, planted two trees, spread 20 yards of mulch;
  
   
  
  The cleanup also entailed numerous efforts by staff with the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) including:

• Repainted 41 driveway zones, 23 fire hydrant zones, 39 corner clears, 30 no parking zones, 49 yellow zones, 6 blue zones, 20 bus zones, 2 handicap ramps, 3 white zones crosswalks at  Beach to Columbus, Jefferson to Taylor, Mason to Bay and Stockton to Bay;
• Cleaned 77 traffic related signs mainly street cleaning, permit parking and tow-away; and
• Replaced 45 signs including those that were defaced and/or missing along with various other forms such as straightening and resetting loose posts 
  
   

In addition, Recology and SF Clean City offered residents the chance to drop-off bulky household items such as mattresses and old furniture through the Gigantic Three Program.

 

DPW hosts monthly volunteer opportunities called Community Clean Team. The next event is scheduled for Saturday, August 7 from 9 am to 12 pm at the African American Art and Culture Complex, 762 Fulton at Webster Streets. For more information on this event, visitwww.sfdpw.org or email volunteer@sfdpw.org

 

DPW is responsible for the care and maintenance of San Francisco’s streets and much of its infrastructure. The department cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and maintains City street trees; designs, constructs and maintains city-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; constructs curb ramps; removes graffiti from public property; and partners with the diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco to provide stellar cleaning and greening services.

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