City Shade Tree Commission takes to Butler, landscaping tools in hand
No yard is too big, no garden bed too small.
The Butler City Shade Tree Commission is bringing back its City Neighborhood Clean Up Program this summer beginning on June 1.
The program provides yard service to people within the city limits through volunteers who bring the tools necessary to clean any yard.
People over 60 years old or people with disabilities who need help with landscaping outside their homes can request help from the yard squad via the City of Butler’s website and the program’s organizers can schedule a visit.
Donna Smith, chairwoman of the Butler Shade Tree Commission, said the program only had a few takers last summer. However, the group is looking to spread awareness this summer. Smith said, people may not know what it has to offer.
“It's not a mow your backyard service,” Smith said. “We're interested in helping people clean and catch up if their yard hasn't been taken care of in a few years.”
But promoting the City Neighborhood Clean Up Program is just one side of the coin. It is also looking to gather more people to perform the work — volunteers who can mow grass, whack weeds, spread mulch, water flowers and gather trash.
The request form includes a line where a resident can suggest people who can help with the program because Smith said the commission is looking for help.
“We're also looking to pick up more volunteers,” she said. “There’s six of us, seven of us, so we could use more people to sign up.”
The City Neighborhood Cleanup Program came at the right time for Valle Nicholas, of Butler. She is 76 years old and was injured in a vehicle crash a few years ago. She said her love of gardening has become too difficult to pursue as a result.
Her yard had gone too long without care, so Nicholas was happy the Shade Tree Commission was able to cover so much ground and make her yard shine.
“I had beautiful azalea bushes and they were all out of control,” Nicholas said. “Not only did they cut them back, but they molded them. They're beautiful. It's beautiful.”
Nicholas said the volunteers came to her home to work last summer over two days and her yard and outdoor space was transformed by the time they left.
She said the Shade Tree Commission’s work was better than she expected. She hopes to get their service again this summer, at least once.
“I didn't expect anything more, but I got more,” Nicholas said. “Because it hasn't been done in so long it needs more work. I need my trees trimmed.”
Smith said the program didn’t have too many takers last year, but the volunteer base of the Shade Tree Commission is hovering at about the same number this year.
Smith emphasized the Shade Tree Commission wants to help people in need of yard work services and said the task can be small, so long as the person requesting help is unable to do it on their own.
“Nothing is too small,” Smith said. “Even weeds growing out of... steps, I've done that. Some things might be big. That's why we're looking for volunteers along the way.”
For more information on the City Neighborhood Clean Up Program, or to submit a request for service, visit cityofbutler.org and find the Shade Tree Commission page under the “Boards and Commissions” banner.
