On Sunday, June 12, 2022, about 50 volunteers partnered with the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department to host a cleanup at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Square Park in Kansas City, MO, in honor of World Environment Day.

MLK, Jr. Square Park – The Heart of Kansas City

Even though there are many parks in Kansas City, MLK, Jr. Square Park is a popular attraction that many children grow up around, and it remains at the heart of the city. The 42-acre park is used for tennis, basketball, picnicking, and more. Unfortunately, excessive litter and illegal dumping have caused the park to lose some of its charm over the years. The pandemic also caused staff shortages nationwide, making waste removal an even greater issue for Kansas City.

Ready to Help!

At 10 a.m., WeLoveU volunteers rolled up their sleeves and began the cleanup at the edge of the park near Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. The volunteers endured the heat of the day to help restore the park through their cleanup efforts. Everyone worked together in unity, partnering in teams of two and three to hold the trash and recycling bags while other volunteers picked up the waste. Despite the overflowing trash, the volunteers picked up plastic bottles and broken branches, thinking about the Kansas Citians who would soon enjoy a safer and more welcoming playscape.

Cheers From the Community!

Drivers and pedestrians passing by the park waved, honked, and stopped to speak to the volunteers. “I would feel even better if more people were like the WeLoveU volunteers,” expressed a resident. “The world would be a more beautiful planet.”

WeLoveU hopes the park cleanup will encourage the community to keep the parks clean for the youth and join upcoming volunteer service activities. Other WeLoveU chapters carried out cleanup efforts on the same day in Illinois, New York, Florida, Nebraska, Utah, Washington, Texas, and California in honor of World Environment Day.

The Intl. WeLoveU Foundation holds cleanups globally as part of the nonprofit’s Clean WORLD Movement, an environmental initiative dating back to 2009, with more than 1,690 cleanups in over 59 countries thus far. WeLoveU will continue working to build a cleaner and sustainable future for all.