News Flash

In a collaborative effort to maintain the scenic beauty and cleanliness of local roads, the Uwchlan Garden Club recently requested support from Uwchlan Township to participate in the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Land Stewards program. The proposed project, which will focus on 5 N. Village Ave, aims to reduce litter, and enhance community pride.

The initiative has seen a recognition sign installed near the historic Uwchlan Meeting House, located at 5 N. Village Ave in Exton. This sign, provided by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, symbolizes the community's commitment to environmental stewardship and maintaining the area's natural beauty.

“Having a sign like this in our community shows that local residents are actively leading the way for the next generation on cleanliness. If we get to see flowers while driving by, instead of trash, that would be delightful!” said Marie-Helene Rising, a member of the Uwchlan Garden Club.

In addition to the sign, the Uwchlan Garden group will be coordinating two litter clean up events each year, with the support of volunteers. The first event was held on July 9^th, where two pounds of debris was collected.

“We were surprised by the number of tiny pieces of litter that must’ve been there for a while. Our members are very pleased with how smooth the process was to get this initiative set up and adopted,” Ms. Rising said.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful supports these clean up events by supplying cleanup supplies, and providing safety protocols and online reporting to document the trash collected.

“Litter affects neighborhoods environmentally, socially, mentally, and economically. Supporting volunteers who want to help by adopting roads or areas benefits the health and safety of the whole community. We are grateful to Uwchlan Township for supporting our program and the Uwchlan Garden Club for their efforts towards a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania” said Stephanie Larson, Land Steward Coordinator, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Uwchlan Township was formally requested to support the adoption of the area into the program by helping to install the sign itself and provide trash disposal options for the litter events.

Thank you to the Uwchlan Garden Club and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for giving us the opportunity to be part of this special initiative. This effort signifies a proactive approach to environmental care and community involvement. The installation of the recognition sign by the historic Uwchlan Meeting House will serve as a visible reminder of the collective effort to keep the area litter-free.

About the Uwchlan Garden Club

The Uwchlan Garden Club, established in 1934, is dedicated to fostering the educational and social interests of its members through gardening and floral design. The club promotes conservation of natural resources and supports the preservation of the historic 1756 Uwchlan Meeting House, a National Historic Site. Monthly meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Meeting House. For more information, visit the Uwchlan Garden Club website or Facebook page.  

About the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Land Stewards Program

Since its inception in 1990, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has enabled local groups to remove thousands of pounds of trash from Pennsylvania's landscapes annually. The program not only enhances the visual appeal of communities but also saves significant municipal funds. A 2019 study by the organization revealed that nine cities in Pennsylvania collectively spend $68 million annually on addressing littering and illegal dumping. Furthermore, PennDOT has expended over $65 million on litter removal over a five-year period from 2014 to 2018.

The benefits of the adoption program extend beyond these cost savings. It fosters community pride, involves residents in maintaining a cleaner environment, deters littering and dumping behaviors, and creates safer, more attractive areas for both locals and visitors.

For more information about Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and its programs, visit the Keep PA Beautiful website or follow them on social media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | X