The Advocate 
Wednesday, December 17, 2001

Stamford group wins national nod for improvements to city Local chapter competed against 125 affiliates

By Chris Gale
Special Correspondent

STAMFORD -Picking up litter and planting flowers can make a city seem like a whole new place, said the head of Keep Stamford Beautiful, the local chapter of Keep America Beautiful.

"A clean city gives people the impression that the city is a safe place to be," said Rick Myers, director of operations at Keep Stamford Beautiful. "People are going to feel very comfortable coming to Stamford."

Myers group, with the support of city government and the Downtown Special Services District, has earned national recognition for its efforts to improve Stamford.

The National organization, Stamford-based Keep America Beautiful, has awarded the local chapter the William Nash Award for achieving significant success.

The award, presented Dec. 8 during the parent organization’s 48th national conference in Washington, D.C., is given to affiliates 3 years old or less.

Keep Stamford Beautiful became an affiliate in 1998, when it conducted a survey to gauge the wants and needs of the community, then based its activities on the results, according to information from the parent organization.

Keep Stamford Beautiful has worked to increase recycling, implemented an adopt-a-spot program, hosts litter-free events, cleans up high-traffic areas, and collects and recycles hundreds of Christmas trees each year.

Becky Lyons, vice president of training and affiliates services for Keep America Beautiful, said Stamford competed against about 125 affiliates nationwide.

Many results of the Stamford group’s work are visible, but some of the most important are not, Lyons said.

"There is a sense of owner-ship among the residents," she said. "It’s a sense of pride that helps the economy and keeps people downtown." 


Myers said the pride is evident by the number of volunteers the group attracts. He has seen as many as 300 volunteers show up for Keep Stamford Beautiful projects, he said.

"I’m very proud that they’ve been nationally recognized," Mayor Dannel Malloy said. 

You can’t drive around Stamford and not be aware of what they’ve undertaken." 

One of its latest projects, an adopt-a-spot program, posts signs that recognize corporations and organizations for adopting areas around the city. Myers said the project has increased maintenance in those places.

Lyons said the flowers Keep Stamford Beautiful has planted around the city will payoff next year.

"It’s just amazing the color in the spring. It’s like the whole city is in bloom," said Lyons, a Stamford resident.

The group planted 11,000 daffodils and 3,000 other annuals, Myers said.

Keep Stamford Beautiful, a nonprofit organization with more than 500 local statewide and international affiliates, educates people about litter prevention and ways to manage waste materials. 

The group works with governments, business and volunteers to clean up, beautify and improve neighborhoods.