During the week of April 17-23, 2023, The Opelousas Downtown Development District (ODDD) and the City of Opelousas will sponsor Keep Downtown Opelousas Beautiful 2023 as part of Love the Boot Week, Louisiana’s largest litter cleanup effort held in conjunction with Earth Week, April 17-23, 2023. Love the Boot Week is organized by Keep Louisiana Beautiful and supported by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Opelousas Downtown Development District along with the City of Opelousas is hosting an entire week of cleanup along Market Street from Bertheaud Avenue to Church Street. Opelousas’ downtown economy retains and recruits new residents and businesses, drawing people from across Acadiana, the state, and the region. Downtown Opelousas is walkable and vibrant, reflecting its rich culture and history while looking to its future as a destination for residents and visitors to live, work, and play. We are seeking assistance to promote community pride in working toward a cleaner, greener, more beautiful Downtown Opelousas.

Litter is not a new problem for Louisiana’s 64 parishes. For decades, litter has become increasingly detrimental to our communities, leading to a multitude of repercussions such as:

·       Blight on natural areas, cities, towns, roadways, and waterways

·       Death of wildlife due to polluted habitats

·       Decline in quality of life in neighborhoods

·       A negative impact on economic development, infrastructure, and tourism

·       Flooding caused by storm drains clogged with litter and debris

Volunteers can register for Opelousas Downtown Cleanup event at www.lovetheboot.org. Questions about this specific event should be directed to the event organizer, Janece Riser at 337-948-1391 or janecer@stlandryed.com.

Love the Boot Week is made possible by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Coca-Cola, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.

For more information about Love the Boot Week, visit www.lovetheboot.org.  Click on volunteer, https://keeplouisianabeautiful.org/love-the-boot/volunteer – put in Opelousas zip code (70570) and fill out the form. Or you can contact info@keeplouisianabeautiful.org.