Simpsonville unveils first sign in Adopt-a-Street program

Council approves resolution forming litter prevention program

Simpsonville, S.C. — The City of Simpsonville unveiled the first sign in its new Adopt-a-Street program at the corner of South and West Curtis streets on Thursday.

As the first applicant in the Simpsonville SIMPLY PROUD. Adopt-a-Street Program, the Golden Strip Sunrise Rotary Club adopted South Street, which runs from West College Street to Fairview Road. Simpsonville Community Relations Specialist Justin Campbell said the unveiling was just the beginning of a new initiative to prevent litter altogether.

"The City wants to inspire within members of the community pride in Simpsonville, and when people keep the areas where they live, work and play clean and litter-free, those people feel proud," Campbell said. "A sign acknowledging an adopter's efforts in keeping Simpsonville beautiful is an incentive to both apply to participate in the program and commit to taking responsibility for the condition of one street or road. We hope it's contagious."

Golden Strip Sunrise Rotary Club member Bill Harclerode and Simpsonville Mayor Paul Shewmaker unveil the first sign in the Simpsonville SIMPLY PROUD. Adopt-a-Street Program at the corner of South and West Curtis streets. The Golden Strip Rotary Club has committed to cleaning up South Street.

The Simpsonville SIMPLY PROUD. Adopt-a-Street Program receives applications for street adoption from individuals, families, groups, clubs, organizations and businesses. Upon approval of an application, the applicant is assigned a street or road owned by the City of Simpsonville. Adopters are required to conduct four litter cleanups per year equally distributed across 12 months and complete a short form to report the number of volunteers, date of the cleanup, number of bags of litter collected and a photo of volunteers.

"We built in a small amount of accountability to impress upon adopters the seriousness of the Adopt-a-Street program," Campbell said. "The Adopt-a-Street signs have real value and meaning."

The Golden Strip Sunrise Rotary Club was the first applicant for the Simpsonville SIMPLY PROUD. Adopt-a-Street Program and adopted South Street, which runs from West College Street to Fairview Road.

After an applicant completes the first cleanup of the assigned street or road, the Simpsonville Public Works Department will fabricate and install a Simpsonville SIMPLY PROUD. Adopt-a-Street Program sign showing sponsorship by the adopter. There is no cost to the applicant for the street sign.

The Adopt-a-Street program is part of a more encompassing effort by the City of Simpsonville to reduce the overall amount of litter in its boundaries and change the habits of community members and motorists so there is less and less garbage to remove from the environment. The Simpsonville SIMPLY PROUD. Litter Prevention Program includes litter removal through the Adopt-a-Street program and four citywide cleanups a year by the City, a doubling of the previous number of cleanups. What differentiates the Litter Prevention Program from the semi-annual Simply Beautiful Cleanup Day events is the prioritization of prevention, the challenge to stop the public from littering at all.

"While litter cleanups are necessary and important, they are reactive to a countywide problem that has spread unabated despite strong efforts by Greenville County and its municipalities," Campbell said. "What will ultimately solve the problem is prevention, a proactive response that involves education, enforcement and encouragement. It may sound counter-intuitive, but picking up garbage is easy compared to changing people's behaviors and habits. Any real impact on the littering problem in the Upstate requires prevention."

Mayor Paul Shewmaker, Simpsonville City Councilman Lou Hutchings of Ward 6, Councilwoman Shannon Hutchings of Ward 3 and Councilman Chad O'Rear of Ward 1 voted with their fellow council members Aaron Rupe of Ward 2, Sherry Roche of Ward 4 and Tim Pinkerton of Ward 5 to approve a resolution forming the Simpsonville SIMPLY PROUD. Litter Prevention Program at the March business meeting.

Simpsonville City Council unanimously adopted in a 7-0 vote at the March business meeting on Tuesday Resolution 2024-01, which memorializes the formation of the Simpsonville SIMPLY PROUD. Litter Prevention Program and its subsidiary Adopt-a-Street program. Campbell credited the future success of the Litter Prevention Program partly to City Council's vote.

"In passing the resolution, council members have put on the record their support for and commitment to the Simpsonville SIMPLY PROUD. Litter Prevention Program, an action they take seriously," Campbell said. "The approval of the resolution also creates accountability for my position of community relations specialist to ensure the program succeeds, grows and gains resiliency. It sends a signal to the City and community that Council and Mayor Paul Shewmaker have prioritized litter prevention and reduction."

Council had previously voted 7-0 at the February Committee of the Whole meeting to advance the resolution to Tuesday night's meeting.

Anyone or any organization wishing to participate in the Simpsonville SIMPLY PROUD. Adopt-a-Street Program can submit an application at the below link. Direct all questions to Community Relations Specialist Justin Campbell at jcampbell@simpsonville.com.