Park City Sweep 

The Park City Sweep is a city-wide beautification day organized by Groundwork Bridgeport.  The event takes place twice each year in April and October and is the largest clean-up day in the city.

While Groundwork Bridgeport has a small staff, as an organization we have the knowledge, sites, tools, and energy to make the Park City Sweep possible.  The Community Organizer works with volunteers, community groups, and the City of Bridgeport to clean-up approximately 20 sites during each event.  Clean-ups at each site can involve picking up trash, weeding flower beds, planting flowers, raking leaves, and sweeping sidewalks.  After the work is completed, the City of Bridgeport, Public Facilities goes to each site to remove the trash.  At the end of the day, Groundwork Bridgeport holds a cookout to thank and meet all of our wonderful volunteers.

Volunteers are recruited from local schools such as Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University, and University of Bridgeport.  In addition, we work with local community groups and residents to facilitate clean-up projects among various neighborhoods.  The teachers in our Butterflies Are Teachers program also help recruit students and parents to work in the butterfly garden at their school.  The Groundwork Board of Directors and other close contacts volunteer to be site leaders during the event to offer extra experience at the different locations.

Volunteers are sent to help at the local elementary schools where Groundwork Bridgeport has existing butterfly gardens.  We also contact social service organizations and other non-profit organizations to assist in beautification projects at their locations.  In the past, volunteers have planted flowers with Alpha Community Services, undertaken landscaping at Homes for the Brave, and swept streets with clients from one of Catholic Charities supportive housing locations.

Residents and volunteers also team up to plant flowers, pick up trash, and even rake leaves at local parks, including Goosetown Park, Wood Park, and Washington Park.  A few ambitious residents even recruit and lead friends and neighbors in a clean-up of their own block or street. 

Students working in the butterfly garden at Multicultural Magnet School.	Bridgeport residents volunteering their time during Spring Park City Sweep to clean-up on Stanford Avenue and around the AmeriCares Free Clinic.

The Park City Sweep is the biggest event at Groundwork Bridgeport each year.  We are usually able to recruit between 150 and 200 volunteers for each event.  In April 2001, Groundwork Bridgeport was awarded the USA Today Weekend Magazine Make a Difference Day Award for our Park City Sweep.   Make a Difference Day is the largest national volunteer day in the United States.  To find out how you can participate in the Park City Sweep, follow the “Get Involved” link, or call our office for the next upcoming date.

 Thank You for Supporting the 2008 Spring Park City Sweep

Funding for the Park City Sweep is provided by:
Aquarion Water Company
Ernest & Joan Trefz Foundation
Wheelabrator Bridgeport
Alloy Engineering Co. Inc.

Other materials and services are provided by:
Alpine Environmental
Smolen’s Catering Service
Greencycle/Grillo Service
Bridgeport Trade & Technology Center
Oliver Nurseries
City of Bridgeport, Public Facilities
City of Bridgeport, Neighborhood Revitalization
City of Bridgeport, Parks and Recreation