As part of an ongoing effort to maintain cleanliness and safety within its boundaries, the City of Fort Worth has amped up its partnership with UpSpire by introducing five new crews dedicated to the removal of illegal campsite debris. The initiative kicked off back in September with the City Council’s decision to enhance the collaboration, and as of November, these crews are actively taking to the streets, parks, and public spaces to tackle the litter problem head-on. The City of Fort Worth stated that UpSpire, a social enterprise born from the Presbyterian Night Shelter, has been instrumental in providing workforce solutions along with job readiness training for individuals striving to overcome employment barriers.
In FY2025, both city staff and UpSpire crews have conducted cleanups in over 2,400 locations that were blighted by illegal camping. This collaboration not only addresses the aesthetic issues at hand but also represents an ongoing commitment to public health and safety. “UpSpire has been a tremendous partner in helping to develop a comprehensive strategy to promote a safe, clean, attractive community,” Cody Whittenburg, the Environmental Services director, conveyed, per the City of Fort Worth. He further noted that the inclusion of additional crews will boost the efficiency of responding to community clean-up needs.
The relationship between Fort Worth and UpSpire has been fruitful, resulting in over 18.6 million pounds of litter and debris being removed from the city in the last fiscal year. Such efforts underscore the shared objective to foster a sense of pride and connectedness among residents while simultaneously promoting the natural beauty of the city’s environs…