Commissioner Gibson Schedules First Crown Jewel Cleanup

Lake Wales City Commissioner Curtis Gibson got tired of seeing trash along Burns Avenue when he took his morning walk. So he obtained city support and enlisted sponsors for the first Crown Jewel Cleanup starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26.

Rotary on the Ridge will staff a volunteer check-in tent outside Grace Healthcare at the corner of Burns Avenue and U.S. 17/Scenic Highway. Grace is allowing volunteers to park in their lot.

Keep Polk County Beautiful is providing trash bags, gloves and other supplies. Kona Ice will set up its truck so volunteers can purchase a frozen treat to beat the heat; proceeds will go to Keep Polk County Beautiful.

Other sponsors include the Lake Wales Care Center, Republic Services and Sara Jones Law.

Volunteers can head east on the South side of Burns Avenue and cross over to the North side, returning west to the cleanup starting point.

Gibson said he hopes this will be the first of many cleanups throughout Lake Wales. He chose Burns Avenue because it's a highly traveled road in his district and serves as the entryway to Bok Tower Gardens.