SYLACAUGA, Ala. – If you are out and about, you may notice streets, parking lots and parks throughout the city look cleaner than normal.
If you live in Sylacauga, you might be familiar with the name Randy Clark.
Clark, a retired construction worker, spends most of his days picking up litter around the Marble City.
“I was a construction worker all my life,” said Clark. “You listen to all the older construction works talk about how all they want to do when they retire is hunt, fish and sit in a rocking chair. Well, I like the hunting and fishing part but the rocking chair did not work out for me. I was looking for something to replace that rocking chair. My wife and I were walking at the Pinecrest Park before the pandemic and you kept hearing people talk about all the litter. One morning I threw a couple garbage bags in my truck and me and my wife went out there and walked, she asked what I was doing with the bags and I told her I was going to pick up the litter. Not long after that, I participated in a cleanup day at Noble Park. The park was a mess and we got it cleaned up. When you turn around and look after you get something like that cleaned up and it warms your heart.”
One small project turned into a bigger project. Clark spends roughly 20-30 hours a week walking the streets, parking lots and parks picking up litter with one goal in mind. To make Sylacauga beautiful.
“I want Sylacauga to be called Beautiful Sylacauga again,” said Clark.
Sec. 12-30 of the city’s Code of Ordinances makes it “unlawful for any person to sweep, throw or deposit trash, waste matter or other substance commonly known as garbage into the streets, alleys, sidewalks or other public ways of the city or upon other property within the city not such person’s own or under such person’s control” and further “for any person to allow any such substance to accumulate or remain exposed to flies on such person’s premises”.
Since starting this project, Clark has picked up nearly 250 bags of litter.
His love for his hometown truly shines in his efforts to help keep the community clean. He hopes that by doing this, it will inspire more individuals to get out and volunteer in their community. After all, volunteers are what make a community thrive.
