EUGENE, Ore. -- (April 19, 2012) -- University of Oregon students, faculty and staff will be “Takin’ it to the Streets” in a UO Day of Service project by that name on Saturday, April 21.

The projects in near-campus neighborhoods will include invasive species removal, touch-ups on decoratively-painted fire hydrants and a litter pickup.

The volunteer projects – which will occur between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Harlow, Fairmount, South University and West University neighborhoods – are part of the UO’s observation of Earth Week 2012. A total of 30 events aimed at enhancing the local environment and promoting sustainability were organized for the six days of Earth Week by a coalition of 20 student organizations and departments.

The UO Holden Center’s Service Learning Program is coordinating Earth Week events that include work at two FOOD for Lane County gardens and the Federal Courthouse garden. Community partners in the Earth Week events include FOOD for Lane County, the Courthouse Garden, Friends of Trees, the South University Neighborhood Association, West University Neighbors, Fairmount Neighbors Association and Harlow Neighbors Association.

This year’s Day of Service on Saturday will be the third annual collaboration among UO students and nearby neighborhood associations, and will include the first project conducted in the Harlow neighborhood.

Saturday’s Day of Service events are: 

• Harlow Neighbors Association – maintenance and invasive species removal at Marche Chase Park (in coordination with Harlow neighbors and Eugene Public Works Parks and Open Space staff).
• Fairmount Neighbors Association – Hendricks Park maintenance and invasive species removal (in coordination with FNA neighbors and Hendricks Park/Parks and Open Space staff).
• South University Neighbors Association – fire hydrant decorative painting touch-ups (in coordination with SUNA neighbors and Eugene Neighborhood Services and Fire/EMS staff).
• West University Neighbors – neighborhood litter pickup project (in coordination with WUN neighbors).

The litter pickup project was initiated by student neighbors in the West University Neighborhood. Students who have taken a leadership class through the UO Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management were encouraged to attend neighborhood and other public meetings, and many have become involved in their neighborhoods during the academic year. Those from the West University area are hoping to get between 30 and 50 students involved in Saturday’s litter pickup. The students already have received permission from property owners to dispose of trash in dumpsters and have secured food donations for volunteers.

About the University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.

MEDIA CONTACT: Joe Mosley, UO media relations, 541-346-3606, jmosley@uoregon.edu

SOURCE: Karen Hyatt, UO government and community relations, 541-346-5351 or 541-520-4672 (cell), khyatt@uoregon.edu

Note: The University of Oregon is equipped with an on-campus television studio with satellite uplink capacity, and a radio studio with an ISDN phone line for broadcast-quality radio interviews.