May is Beautification Month in Shinnston. Community leaders have teamed up to complete several spring cleaning efforts around the city. The focus will be on downtown Shinnston, specifically along Pike Street, but the entire community is encouraged to get involved.

Small businesses fill the streets in Downtown Shinnston, as placemaking efforts are underway. Community leaders in Shinnston have harnessed the momentum started by several of the business owners and are excited to get involved.

Community Development Director AJ Hammond is ready to get the clean-up initiative moving.  “Shinnston has incredible potential. I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the efforts to revitalize,” he said.

Referring to small towns around the state such as Thomas and Harrisville, Hammond mentions that clean cities are inviting cities.  “These other small towns around the state are experiencing great economic development, and it all starts with image.”

Property owners and tenants are encouraged to not be left out on the progress. Whether it is painting the storefronts, installing new signage, adding flower boxes under windows, the opportunities are endless in ways to get involved.

The Shinnston Public Works Department is eager to take charge for Beautification Month.  Interim Public Works Director Travis Watson is excited to get to work. Saying, “We are going to start with sweeping the streets and move on to other projects around town.”

In addition, Enterprise Sanitation will be working with the city conducting bulk pick-ups, as well as recycling from the bins located in the Shop-N-Save parking lot.

With several events planned in Shinnston throughout the summer, Beautification Month will kick off the efforts to ‘Make Shinnston Shine’.

For more information on how to get involved, contact AJ Hammond at [email protected] or call (304) 592-5631.