Volunteers of all ages will come together to give local streets and parks a spring spruce-up on Saturday, April 26, as part of the sixth annual “Make Ashland Sparkle.”  

The community-wide clean-up and beautification effort will have groups picking up litter along major streets, cleaning up city and county parks, staining bridges and spreading mulch at local senior citizen facilities. Opportunities for the youngest volunteers include the “Kid Friendly Cleanup,” picking up sticks in Brookside and Cahn Grove parks. Volunteers can pick their tasks when they register at: AshlandRotary.net and click on the Sparkle sign-up link. 

The Rotary Club of Ashland and the City of Ashland are sponsors of the event with numerous local businesses and organizations donating funds and food for breakfast and lunch. 

“This year, we are collaborating with the Ashland County Park District to build on the wayfinding sign project initiated by the Leadership Ashland Class of ’24. We are looking for volunteers who have experience with power tools to help us install the signs at Audubon Park,” said Rotarian Charlene Tolbert, who is co-chair of the project. 

Sparkle has grown to nearly 200 volunteers over the years, including groups from churches, businesses, civic organizations and scout groups. 

 Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Corner Park downtown`. The kickoff will be at 9 a.m., and volunteers will then head to their designated assignments. Lunch will be provided back at Corner Park from 11:45 a.m. until noon. Supplies and a limited number of tools will be provided. Questions can be directed to Tolbert at [email protected] or co-chair Justin Holden at [email protected].  

   The rain date is May 10.