If the weather is any indication, spring is right around the corner. That means it’s time for our fifth annual Clean Sweep April 6-11. It’s hard to believe this volunteer cleanup began only five years ago as a graffiti paint-out event. Our community has made Clean Sweep a one-of-a-kind event in such a short time. One major focus is beautification of public right of way – specifically along some of our higher-traffic corridors like State Avenue, and 51st and 67th avenues. I’m not just talking about cleaning up litter and mowing the grass. We want to add visually pleasing trees, shrubs and flowers.

If you’ve driven south along State Avenue from 88th you’ve seen bunches of daffodils growing in landscaped plots along the railroad tracks. Our goal is to expand that to 172nd. Adding visual appeal to our roadsides is one way we can share that pride with anyone who visits.

Our city gateway signs are another way we introduce our city to visitors, so our Clean Sweep volunteers will work with staff to tidy up the landscaping and plants around those signs. All that hard work will help showcase the return of our hanging basket program this May. I always feel a great sense of community when I drive into our city and get to enjoy those bright, colorful baskets of flowers hanging along State.

Another area of Marysville that will benefit from our Clean Sweep volunteers is Mother Nature’s Window park property, the remarkable natural preserve located along 100th Street near 55th Avenue. From old-growth timber to flying squirrels, this 35-acre parcel has the potential to be a treasured open space that future generations can explore and enjoy. Our first step in opening this property to the public is a thorough cleanup, and that’s where our volunteers come in. We have a lot of work to do this year, including developing a master plan for the future of the Mother Nature’s Window property so we can move forward with plans to open this magnificent piece of nature to the public.

At last year’s Clean Sweep, we had 43 volunteers contribute more than 129 hours of service. We painted 625 feet of fencing along 51st Avenue and near the roundabout wall on 108th Street. We cleaned up Freeway Park by pulling weeds, planting summer flowers and grasses, and painting planter boxes. We removed old, damaged playground equipment from Foothills Park, and we completed wetland cleanup work at the library, at Munson Creek and in Jennings Park. It’s amazing what our community can achieve when we work together. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish this year.

Along with our outdoor Clean Sweep efforts, we’re again offering our annual Shred-A-Thon from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 18, at City Hall. This is an extremely popular event that gives our residents the chance to safely and efficiently gets rid of old documents. I want to thank all the sponsors and volunteers for making this possible.

As you’re out in the community, don’t forget about our annual Pride of Marysville neighborhood improvement awards. Each year, we recognize those neighbors and businesses who take pride in their property and help enhance the appearance of their community. If you know a local business, or a particular homeowner or block/neighborhood, that exemplifies pride of ownership and has outstanding curb appeal, please nominate them for the 2015 Pride of Marysville award.

There are four categories: Best residential property (Pride of the Neighborhood), best block/neighborhood, best business, and the Mayor’s Choice – James Comeford Award focused on improvements in the downtown/waterfront district. If you’re interested in nominating someone, please visit our website, marysvillewa.gov, and search for “Pride of Marysville awards.”

Jon Nehring is the mayor of Marysville. His column runs once a month.