Keep Columbus Beautiful

Celebrating Twenty Years of Environmental Stewardship

1987

• Seven citizens appointed to Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission.
• Jessica Barrick was hired as Executive Director.
• Commissioner completes Keep America Beautiful Pre-Certification criteria.

1988

• Commission certified as a Keep America affiliate January 28, 1988.
• Commission expanded to 12 appointed commissioners.
• Commission begins Adopt-A-Spot program with CB&T.
• Commission begins working with city to prepare Waste Management Plan.
• Initiates conversation with Goodwill Industries to create a recycling center.
• First Christmas Tree Recycling event began.

1989

• Goodwill Industries Recycling Center opens Columbus' first R-Day.
• First Adopt-A-Spot medians are planted.
• Commission sponsors Newspaper in Education (NIE) environmental insert.
• Commission assists in research and development of waste management plan.

1990

• Commission expands to 25 commissioners.
• Community Forum held for area clubs and organizations.
• "Environmental Education: Teaching for Survival" forum held for area educators.
• "Cover Columbus with Trees" urban forestry program begins.
• Adopt-A-Highway litter program begins.
• Commission assists in producing county's Waste Management Plan.
• Georgia Clean & Beautiful School.

1991

• Commission joins partnership to create Columbus Gateways program.
• First "Waste In Place" and "Waste: A Hidden Resource" teach workshops held.
• Arbor Day programs initiated in every school in Muscogee County.

1992

• Columbus Gateways School program is initiated.
• First annual Telephone Book Recycling program.
• First two Gateways projects are completed.
• Mead sponsors annual Arbor Day Celebration for the city and the schools.
• Columbus Gateways media/PR campaign begins.

1993

• Commission beings quarterly newsletter.
• Monthly Earthnotes newsletter created for Gateways School Program.
• Commission assists city with curbside recycling test program.
• "Homes For Trees" program begins.
• Four new Gateway sites begin construction.
• First Columbus Gateways BMW Fundraiser held.
• First Annual Community Awards program held.

1994

• City-wide curbside recycling program begins.
• "Waste in the Workplace" seminar held for business community.
• Commission produces newsletters and brochures for curbside recycling program.
• Gateways begins two new interchanges and three corridor projects.

1995

• Commission organizes aesthetics improvement program for Columbus '96.
• Pitch In program introduced to help citizens prepare city to host Olympics.
• First annual Help the Hooch River Clean-Up held.
• Plastic and magazines added to curbside recycling program.

1996

• Commission becomes Partner-At-Large in PIE Program.
• Pitch In Partner Program helps prepare community for Olympics.
• Let's Make A Grand Entrance Contest helps prepare community for Olympics.
• Gateways loan is paid.
• Columbus recycles 90,000+ telephone books - best rate in the southeast.

1997

• First Arbor Day Plant-A-Thon held on the Riverwalk.
• Commission supports proposed sign management ordinance.
• Commission assists Recycling Division with recycling PSA campaign.
• Commission helps Columbus Against Drugs groups clean their neighborhoods.
• Commission assists with creation of Community Improvement Program.

1999

• Gloria Weston-Smart was hired as Executive Director.
• Litter Campaign.
• Increased fine for littering.
• Gateways become 501c(3).
• Keep Georgia Beautiful Litter Prevention Award.

2000

• New Litter Mascot.
• Citywide promotion of Litter Free Events.
• Magic of Recycling.
• Enviro Scape Educational Program.
• Commission assists in Storm Water Educational Programs.
• First Tri-Community Night of Lights.
• Keep Georgia Beautiful System Award.

2001

• Establish the first Tree Memorial.
• Public Housing Recycling.
• MLK Serv-A-Thon.
• Ledger Enquirer Community Newsletter.

2002

• Supported the Tree Ordinance.
• Appointment to the Tree Board.
• Helped establish the Environmental Court.
• Facilitated the Neighborhood Leadership Academy.
• Earth Day: "The Adventures of Wally the Water Drop" Altrusa of Columbus.
• Christmas In April with Atmos Energy.
• Implemented Recycling program with Greystone Properties, LLC.

2003

• Cosponsored Learn about Forests program with CCG Urban Forest and Beautification Division.
• Promoted Litter Free Columbus Catfish Game.
• Started planning process to develop Citizen Litter Enforcement program.

2004

• Recycle with Blue Bin and Win Campaign, with WRBL-TV-3, CCG Recycling Division.
• Assisted with Tree Board First City-wide Arbor Day celebration at Lakebottom.
• Dedicated Unity Tree in recognition of Kenneth Walker at Lakebottom.
• Hosted the first State of Georgia Winning Water Children's Festival.
• Served on South Columbus Revitalization Committee.
• Gateways enhancement projects on I-185.

2005

• Earned State of Georgia Rivers Alive! Award for Help-the-Hooch.
• Established the Iron Eyes Cody Award in recognition of Lonnie Jackson.
• Participated in the Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program with Columbus BID.

2006

• Held first Computer and Electronic Equipment and Hazardous Household Waste (HHW) Recycling project.
• Applied for GA DOT Scenic Byways designation for I-185 Williams Road North to I-85.
• Co-sponsored the Tour of Home Gardens with Columbus Botanical Gardens.
• Presented the first Iron Eyes Cody Award to Mr. Morris Jackson.

2007

• I-185 Scenic Byways Approved by GA DOT.
• Inaugural Help-the-Hooch Golf Tournament.
• Earned the State of Georgia Rivers Alive Media Award for Help-the-Hooch.
• State "Litter. It costs you." Anti litter campaign.

2008

• Received a Resolution from Georgia Department of Transportation designating 39 miles of I-85 as a Scenic Byway.
• Kicked off the Lonnie Jackson Memorial Plaza Project.
• Received the Georgia Community Affairs "Away From Home Recycling Grant" to promote recycling during special events.
• Collaborated with Knology to sponsor a "Shred it and Forget it" project.

2009

• City-wide Arbor Day Celebrated 31 years of earned recognition as Georgia's first Tree City U.S.A.
• Received the State Rivers Alive Cleanup Award for the larges cleanup in the state.
• Promoted Litter Free Football games during the 2008 High School season.

2010

• Received the WLTZ-TV-38 "Community Green Award".
• Kicked off the statewide "I don't Recycle, you gotta be kidding!" Campaign.
• Completed the Lonnie Jackson Memorial Plaza Project.

"Quality People Providing Quality Service"