Keeping downtown Grand Forks clean

Vivien Majkrzak picks up candy wrappers at the play ground in Town Square with fellow volunteer Sammi Olson Wednesday morning during the Grand Forks Downtown Development Association’s first cleanup event.

Volunteers from downtown businesses were sent out into the alleys, sidewalks and pocket parks to pick up small garbage items, which can’t be picked up by the city’s street sweepers.

The GFDDA provided gloves, grabbers, brooms and garbage bags as well as free water and cookies.

The association plans to hold a cleanup event every two weeks.

The next cleanup will take place 11 a.m. to noon July 30, with volunteers meeting first in Town Square to figure out what areas need cleaning.

On the Web: www.facebook.com/GFDDA .

1/2: Jeff Mlodzik, left, and Hatti Olson pick up garbage in the pocket park next to Urban Stampede Wednesday morning during the first downtown cleanup sponsored by the Grand Forks Downtown Development Association. Photo by Kile Brewer/Grand Forks Herald

2/2: Jeff Mlodzik, left, and Hatti Olson pick up cigarette butts behind Sledster's Wednesday morning during the first downtown cleanup sponsored by the Grand Forks Downtown Development Association. Photo by Kile Brewer/Grand Forks Herald