Latvia gets tidied in Big Cleanup

During the Big Cleanup campaign this year, 1,139 cleanup locations were cleared from garbage and/or improved visually and functionally, Latvian Radio and Zemgale television reported on April 22.

Latvian Radio went to the Dzegužkalns park in Rīga, where not only garbage was collected but the open-air stage and seating area were renewed and repainted. In summer, events will take place on the stage.

"The Song and Dance Festival is turning 150 this year and Dzegužkalns is one of the event venues. We thought the benches needed a fresh coat of paint. The length [of the benches in total] is around a kilometer. So today it's all coming together slowly. Improvement is, after all, nicer than collecting construction debris, tires or other 'legacy' left by irresponsible residents," said the technical service head of Rīga Forests, Ģirts Ruģelis. 

On the other hand, in Mangaļsala, representatives of 22 foreign embassies came together for some work. The Cleanup there was opened by President Levits.

Zemgale Regional Television went to Baloži, where this year, the historical narrow-gauge railway was being repaired. The railway started operation in 1948 to deliver peat to the factory. Volunteers have fought to preserve it and now are trying to renew it so an authentic train ride could be enjoyed.

“We're really glad that there are so many people who are prepared to go in nature or near their homes every year and clean up the sites that have been trashed. The interest is always great every year and we receive countless calls and questions about how to clean correctly, where to clean, etc. The results of this cleanup are excellent. The representatives of the embassies, where many worked today in Mangaļsala, are very pleased to be surprised that Latvia is so clean. I picked up only three wrappers as I walked through the woods, so it is pleased to say that Mangaļsala is really clean,” said Vita Jaunzeme, head of the Big Cleanup.

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