A call to clean up Black Mountain

Beautification committee asks community to join litter sweep

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
March 27, 2022

The Black Mountain Beautification Committee is hosting its Spring Litter Sweep, April 2. Participants are asked to meet at Town Square, where groups will receive supplies and instructions. Photo by Fred McCormick

Whether it's restoration projects like the recently completed Centennial Park East Garden at the intersection of Sutton Avenue and N.C. 9, or maintaining the landscape around the signs that welcome visitors and residents into town, the Black Mountain Beautification Committee remains dedicated in its mission to honor the natural beauty of the Valley. 

Around 115 volunteers lend their time and energy to this year-round cause, but keeping the streets, river banks and greenways free of debris requires a community effort, which returns at 9 a.m., Saturday, April 2, when the BMBC hosts its 2022 Spring Litter Sweep. 

Members of the beautification committee will greet the public at the parking lot below Town Square, where they will distribute trash pickers, gloves, safety vests, bags and maps. Water will be available through a donation from Ingles. Once equipped, groups will be dispatched to various locations around Black Mountain, according to Anne Dale, who has been organizing the spring and fall litter sweeps since 2018. 

The town-wide cleaning event, which typically collects 20-25 bags of trash, is in need of “new energy,” according to the organizer. 

“We need the community to get involved,” Dale said. “The pandemic lessened the crowds for this event, but it was strong before that. So, we’re hoping to see some of the same faces, but also new people who just care about keeping our town clean.”

There is no obligation for participants to stay until noon, she added. 

“Whatever time people are willing to give is wonderful,” she said. “We are limited on the number of litter grabbers, so the people who come early are most likely to get those.”

The maps provided are designed by Jack Williams, a local artist and graphic designer whose work includes the poster design for the 2019 Sourwood Festival and multiple Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League posters. 

The detailed maps help participants navigate sections of town targeted by the litter sweep. 

“Any areas close to a fast food restaurant typically have a lot of trash around,” Dale said. “Other areas we also find a lot are in areas where people have to stop their cars, like along Flat Creek.” 

Large groups, families and individuals are welcome to join the effort. 

“It’s a hands-on activity, and really an opportunity for people to do something good for their community,” Dale said. “It also happens to come right before the start of our visitor season, and participating in the litter sweep often helps people be more aware of this particular need. The beautification committee is happy, at any time of year, to give bags out to people who want to pick up trash.”