Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Cleanup and beautification projects are underway in the city of Tucumcari in an effort to increase tourism and attract future residents.
QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia
As part of the efforts to improve Tucumcari and its facilities, members of the Tucumcari Senior Citizens Center and C-C 4H paint the Del Notre Center Tuesday evening.
"It's truly a good thing when the community works together to make the city look beautiful," said Patsy Gresham, chamber of commerce director.
Gresham said the community will benefit as a whole when everyone works together to put their best foot forward.
"When our town is clean, it helps to encourage the tourist not just to visit for the day, but stay overnight," Gresham said.
Tucumcari's code enforcement officer Veronica Sandy said there are several projects in the works to clean up and beatify the city.
"On Wednesday their will be an Arbor Day celebration at the Community Development office," Sandy said. "We have invites to city commissioners to plant some trees."
Sandy said later in the week, the children of the Head Start Early Education program will be planting flowers at City Hall.
"On Saturday we will be holding our Great American Cleanup project," Sandy said. "Volunteers will be cleaning a section of South First Street."
Sandy said the section selected to be cleaned has several hotels and restaurants.
"This is the busy time of tourism for our city," Gresham said. "I have been surprised with the number of tourists that visit Tucumcari."
Gresham said so many tourist are drawn to Tucumcari for the Route 66 appeal. She said when volunteers help to keep the community clean it promotes a longer stay and possibly invite the tourist to become a new resident.
Gresham said the chamber has been receiving 10 requests a week for relocation packets from people interested in moving to Tucumcari.
"People are interested in moving to our town and I believe our efforts to keep the town clean has a hand in that," Gresham said.
Sandy said a second location has been selected to be cleaned if their is a high number of volunteers who come out for the clean up.
"We need people to come out," Sandy said. "It's important for the people to take an active role in making their community better."
Gresham said it starts with keeping your property clean, helping with the clean up in your neighborhood and then helping out across the town.