Keep America Beautiful Revitalizes Gulf Coast

Gulfport, Miss.: Keep America Beautiful is heading back to the Gulf Coast today to revitalize the storm-ravaged southern city of Gulfport, Mississippi, during the Great American Cleanup.

The efforts are part of the national nonprofit's Hurricane Katrina Restoration initiative which started in 2006 in Biloxi, Mississippi.

In collaboration with Keep Mississippi Beautiful/PAL, City of Gulfport Department of Leisure Services and Keep Harrison County Beautiful, Keep America Beautiful volunteers will work to plant trees, remove debris and restore public spaces including a 12-acre park, a beach and a schoolyard.

The clean-up is intended to bring hope and beauty back to the community which still suffers from the effects of the severe 2005 storms.

In Gulfport, Hurricane Katrina destroyed over 3,500 homes and severely damaged another 5,000. Ten of the city's twelve fire stations suffered major damage and the overall estimated amount of damage to city buildings tops $150 million. To date, 2.9 million cubic yards of storm debris has been removed from the city.

In addition to physical damage, the storm also hit the city's resources. Gulfport's annual budget suffers from an annual loss of $4 million in property tax revenue, $7 million in water and sewer revenue and continues to lose $13,700 per day of gaming revenue.

Restoring the city's parks and open spaces requires volunteers and donations, a commitment that is continuing through Keep America Beautiful and this year's event partners.

In a press release, Keep Mississippi Beautiful/PAL president Barbara Dorr said "Keep Mississippi Beautiful is dedicated to restoration efforts for communities in Mississippi that genuinely need the support. Last year's efforts in Biloxi had a lasting effect on the lives of the volunteers and residents, and we're looking forward to making that same impact in Gulfport as we strive to beautify and restore the community."

The 2007 Great American Cleanup will kick off in Gulfport with Mississippi First Lady Marsha Barbour, Gulfport Mayor Brent Warr and Keep America Beautiful President G. Raymond Empson.