Seattle sparkles after MLS Clean & Green
MLS players participate in league community outreach initiative
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Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber was among those speaking to kick off the morning's event. Five MLS players joined Garber. Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC) and Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC) all grabbed gloves and shovels to kick off the event.
"Seattle is such an environmentally focused city," Garber said. "Around the country it's important we take part in activities like this, especially as we make a push to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup."
Clean & Green Seattle is one of Mayor Greg Nickols' pet projects. Saturday's event marked the 103rd event for the city. According to the mayor's website, as of July 11, Clean & Green events had collected more than 546,650 pounds of garbage and planted more than 12,500 plants and flowers.
"We start out with events like this, but encourage people to do it in their neighborhoods," said J. Paul Blake, director of community relations development for Seattle Public Utilities. "It's been a great program. We wanted to help draw attention to MLS Cup with this event. Especially since Seattle is in the running to be a host city in the World Cup bids."
MLS W.O.R.K.S. took part in the event for the first time. The league's community outreach initiative has a program it supports entitled Greener Goals. The participants in Saturday's event all donned shirts representing the organization, with the occasional Sounders FC scarf and many other layers of clothing. Saturday's event focused on adding some greenery to the SoDo community, a predominantly industrial area about a mile south of Qwest Field straight down 1st Avenue.
"It's great to be a partner with MLS and have players and officials here," Seattle Council President Richard Conlin said. "Volunteering is part of our value system. We're working on a plan to significantly increase the tree canopy in Seattle. It's a tribute to Seattle that we have so many volunteers. Our job is to provide them with the tools they need."
Evans said the Sounders FC players are very involved in the community. Saturday's event marked the first time he had helped plant trees.
"It's a good opportunity for us to get out and help," Evans said. "When they came calling, it was an easy answer. Anything we can do to help is great. I don't mind getting my hands dirty."
Conrad, one of 2009's U.S. Soccer Foundation/MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarians of the Year, helped plant the first tree and was excited to help out with the day's event.
"As athletes we're in a position to give back and give notice to dilapidated areas and communities," Conrad said. "While we have the visibility, we should take advantage and help in whatever way we can."
Kathryn L. Knapp is a contributor to MLSnet.com
