The City of Dallas will spend $14 million on trash and litter maintenance at City parks over the next three years as residents call for authorities to clean up Dallas.
During the most recent Dallas City Council meeting, the body approved a “three-year service price agreement for litter maintenance and trash removal services at City-owned parks, recreation centers, aquatic centers, and splash grounds.” The value of the agreement totals $14,098,176.
The City will pay $7,120,224 to T. Smith’s Lawn Service and $6,977,952 to Good Earth Corporation for these services, according to City documents.
Public parks have been one of Mayor Eric Johnson’s priorities. Recently, the City officially opened the new Harwood Park in Downtown Dallas, as reported by The Dallas Express.
“Dallas has become a national model for excellence in developing innovative green spaces like Harwood Park, and I could not be more excited about the direction this city is going in terms of increasing access to parks, trails, and other green spaces,” Johnson said.
“A vibrant park system creates opportunities for kids and families like mine growing up — those without big backyards or swimming pools or private country club or gym memberships — to experience a decent quality of life,” he added.
Furthermore, the importance of trash and litter maintenance has emerged as a priority among Dallas residents. For instance, recent polling by The Dallas Express found most respondents were unhappy with the amount of trash and litter they see in their neighborhoods and throughout the city.
The results of this poll align with a previous City of Dallas satisfaction survey, which found that the majority of residents believe the City does a “poor” job of keeping Dallas streets clean.
Residents’ sweeping denouncement of how local officials have managed the city’s cleanliness comes after Dallas ranked among the top 10 dirtiest cities in the United States. Dallas has also been named one of the most pest-infested cities in the country.
During the same meeting in which council members authorized the $14 million price agreement, a total of $376 million in costs to the taxpayer was approved by the council, as reported by The Dallas Express.
