New Cedar City Cares Committee to Serve the Community |
Community beautification and cleanup |
In Cedar City, community beautification begins with a simple question: Which shared spaces need a little more care?
A new volunteer committee will turn residents’ concerns about litter, graffiti and neglected landscaping into hands-on projects across the city.
The Cedar City Council approved the Cedar City Cares Committee after community members asked for more attention to the appearance and upkeep of public areas. Its work could be especially visible along sidewalks and roadsides, where small problems tend to become part of the daily view.
Planned community cleanup tasks include removing trash and graffiti, pulling weeds from public sidewalks and helping with landscape work. For residents who have noticed a trouble spot but wondered who would tackle it, the committee offers a way to help.
The group is expected to start with one or two larger projects each year, leaving room to expand as volunteers and opportunities allow. That measured approach matters: lasting improvements take more than a single busy Saturday.
Five board members will guide the effort, while local volunteers will provide the hands needed to complete projects.
The appointed members are Pam Branin, Tim Marriot, Craig Corry, Cleave Weaver and City Councilman Phil Schmidt.
Because the committee relies on volunteer participation, city officials expect projects to move forward with limited direct costs to Cedar City.
Mayor Steve Nelson has expressed confidence that residents’ pride in their hometown will help the initiative make a difference. That confidence is understandable, but the real test will be whether neighbors keep showing up once the first projects are finished.
Cleaner public spaces can make everyday walks and drives feel more welcoming, even when the work behind them is easy to overlook. These community service projects also give residents a chance to shape the places they share, rather than wait for someone else to act.
Cedar City residents interested in joining the committee or helping with a project can contact city staff for participation details.
Community beautification will succeed one practical task at a time, with volunteers turning local pride into visible care. |
16 Comments
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Phil Schmidt being on the board makes sense. Curious how much time council members actually have to dedicate to something like this on top of everything else they do.
Craig_InUtahThat is a fair question. My guess is his role is more about giving the committee some official weight and access to city resources. The actual heavy lifting probably falls on the other volunteers.
Pulled weeds out front of my neighbors house last summer just because it was bothering me. Nice to know there will be an actual organized effort now so it does not all fall on random people like me.
Janet M.Ha I have done the same thing on my block. It is nice to have something more official so the effort actually goes somewhere instead of just being random acts of weeding.
Great that it costs the city very little. With the budget the way it is right now that matters a lot. Smart way to get things done.
Phil R.That was my first thought too. Volunteer driven and low cost is pretty much the only way something like this gets approved right now. Glad they found a way to make it work.
I moved here two years ago and honestly the litter along some of the roadsides was one of the first things I noticed. Really glad the city is doing something about it.
One or two big projects a year seems pretty slow. Other towns do way more than that with the same kind of volunteer setup.
The graffiti behind the rec center has been there for months. If this committee can tackle that first I think a lot of people would notice the difference pretty fast.
Roy SimmonsYes that spot has been bugging me forever. That whole back area near the rec center just feels run down. Would definitely get people's attention if they cleaned it up early on.
My kids and I would love to volunteer for something like this. Does anyone know how to sign up or who to contact at city hall?
Trevor L.Article says to contact city staff for details. I would just call the main city hall number and ask. They should be able to point you in the right direction pretty quickly.
Pam Branin is a great choice for this. She has been involved in community stuff for as long as I can remember. This is in good hands.
Donna FitchAgreed, she put so much work into the farmers market cleanup a few years back too. Good to see people like her actually stepping up instead of just talking about it.
So glad to see this finally happening. There is a stretch on Main Street near the old parking lot that has been an eyesore for years. Hoping this committee actually gets to it.
Sandra K.I know exactly which stretch you mean. It has looked bad for a long time. Here is hoping they put it on the list sooner rather than later.