Adopt-A-Street waits for kickstart

POST FALLS – Post Falls’ new Adopt-A-Street program is having a little trouble getting out of first gear, but organizers and participants are hopeful that more streets will soon benefit from volunteer trash pickup.

So far just one group has signed on to adopt a street, although two others have expressed interest.

Community Presbyterian Church helped spur the city to start the program last summer, said Jann Kendle, who serves on the church’s outreach committee.

The church chose Schneidmiller Avenue and neighboring portions of Vest, Grafiti and Greensferry streets because of all the restaurants at that location and heavy traffic.

“People buy something to eat, and for some reason they think the garbage can is out the window,” Kendle said.

Church members will be hosting a cleanup Saturday.

Groups must agree to pick up litter along their street at least once every three months and commit to doing so for two years, said Post Falls Streets Superintendent Jim Porter.

In return, the city provides signs noting the group’s adoption of the street, vests, gloves and other equipment needed for cleanup.

The cost to the city is small – only about $100 per group, Porter said.

Porter said he thinks participation has been slow to get going because the weather turned not long after the program was finalized.

“I really thought it would start a chain of businesses and organizations signing up,” said church elder Judy Grolla of the Adopt-A-Street program. “It’s just really a good thing. This is what our community is all about.”

The Street Department sweeps streets and cleans sidewalks but doesn’t have the manpower to pickup trash on the city’s 150 miles of roads.

“We’d like to get some help out there,” he said, adding that key arterials such as Seltice Way, Spokane Street and Idaho Street could really use the attention.

Kendle encouraged other churches and community groups to consider adopting Post Falls streets of their own.

“It gives you a good feeling to help your community,” Kendle said. “You drive by after it’s finished and can say, ‘I was part of that.’ “