Akron’s Trash Art Sparks Clean‑Up Spirit

The City of Akron and Keep Akron Beautiful (KAB) have unveiled a striking new public art installation that transforms litter into letters. Located at 2043 East Ave in Prentiss Park, the piece spells out “THINK”, urging residents to reflect on their impact on the city.

How It Works

• Construction: Each letter is built from chicken wire.
• Material: Filled with litter collected from local streets, turning garbage into a visual statement of community pride and responsibility.

The Bigger Picture

A recent KAB survey assessed litter, illegal signs, and graffiti across 63 sites in all ten city wards. The findings confirm that litter remains the most significant challenge to Akron’s appearance.

Artist and Movement

• Artist: Rachel Hatley, based in Louisiana.
• Context: Part of a national movement that has spread to many towns; Akron’s installation is the first in Northeast Ohio, aiming to inspire residents to care for shared spaces.

Voices from Leadership

• Mayor Shammas Malik and Executive Director Jacqui Ricchiuti emphasize that the installation encourages simple actions such as picking up litter or joining clean‑up events.
• City Councilwoman Tina Boyes praised the effort for making Prentiss Park cleaner and safer.

Get Involved

• Upcoming Clean‑Ups:
• September 12 – West Hill neighborhood

• September 23 – Marathon course

• Volunteer Sign‑Up: Visit www.KeepAkronBeautiful.org.