KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eleven of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Kansas City, Missouri, got a spring cleaning Saturday as volunteers picked up trash in an effort to improve the communities in some small way.
It's called the Urban Core Cleanup and, in addition to picking up trash, the group's goal also is to sweep away crime.
"We're all tired, we're frustrated, it's got to end," said Marquita Taylor, a resident in the Santa Fe Neighborhood.
She and Karmello Coleman were among the volunteers who spent the morning picking up litter near 27th Street and Benton Boulevard. They hope people will be inspired to take pride in the community where they live.
"It's become a dumping ground, and people feel it's OK to come all the way over here and dump stuff and leave," Coleman said.
Taylor added, "The blight goes with crime, I truly truly believe that if we would clean up our neighborhoods, beautify the neighborhoods, put in some artwork and some other things here, I'm praying and I'm hoping that that will be enough to get people who live here to appreciate where they are living."
Instead, the 2700 block of Benton is known for shootings, drugs, and prostitution.
Taylor wants accountability from property owners in these neighborhoods, hoping if they make an effort to clean up the trash it would improve the neighborhood overall.
"I think that's the last piece of the puzzle," Taylor said. "We've got the police involved. We are taking down license plate numbers. We're giving them pictures. We certainly have the support of the police department. We have the support of City Council."
These east-side neighborhoods will soon have more lighting installed, which Taylor also hopes will deter crime.
Meanwhile, Urban Core Cleanup hopes to have more of these cleanups in the near future.
