AUGUSTA, Ga () – Operation City Clean-Up is designed to offer meaningful service opportunities for people with court ordered community service. 

There have been community clean ups in the past, but this will be the first consistent one in the Augusta area.

It will focus on high-traffic areas such as parks, streets and vacant lots.

The clean-up started in the Harrisburg corridor but they will be going around to different areas that need to be cleaned.

“We’re going to move this around to every single district throughout the county. Some Saturdays we’ll be out in South Richmond County, others we may be downtown, we may be over in the Turpin Hill area, it just depends on the area that needs the most help,” said Garnett L. Johnson, Mayor of Augusta.

For the city clean-ups, they are offering a 2 for 1 ratio to ensure accountability and encourage participation. 

One of the participants of the clean-up, Syntavous Smith, says he believes it will do just that, and he is happy to be serving his community.

 “He came out here and surprised us, two for one you can’t beat that! Four hours and you get four extra hours, so yeah, I think it’s a good purpose and a good way to get people to actually do it. We’re serving the purpose of cleaning up the community and helping the community out, anything for the community.” 

Mayor Johnson says he is looking forward to the future clean ups, and is hoping more people join.

“What’s most important is hopefully we’re gaining ambassadors to tell others as they’re driving along the roadways not to throw litter out on the side of the road. As I have always said, I don’t see this as punishment, keeping Augusta clean and having a sense of pride where we call home is very important and I’m just glad to have these individuals that are helping today and will be helping moving forward,” said Johnson.

Operation City Clean-Up will happen every Saturday from 8am-12p.