Spring cleaning is in full swing in Grande Prairie.
The Grande Prairie Police Service’s Mobile Outreach team is reminding residents they are “only a phone call away” when it comes to drug-related debris pickup, especially as the city continues its springtime thaw.
Each year, during the melt, the city tends to see an increase in debris, otherwise covered up by the freeze of winter. As a result, Mobile Outreach conducts regular sweeps throughout the city, with a focus on high-traffic areas like parks or the downtown core, where waste tends to accumulate.
Officials say the Government of Alberta’s grant-funded position of “Needle Mitigation Worker” plays a significant role in addressing and removing discarded needles and other drug-related debris; working closely with local businesses and the community to ensure public spaces are kept safe.
Additionally, the worker is available to respond to direct calls from residents and businesses for needle removal, or to conduct a sweep at specific locations, which Golden Age Centre Office Manager Elaine Jobin calls an “invaluable service.”
“Being situated on the banks of Muskoseepi Park, we regularly have needle debris on location, which is a source of concern for our organization,” she says. “They are only a phone call away when we spot something of concern. We’ve even had them in our centre, educating our members about the do’s and don’ts- It’s an invaluable service.”
To report issues or request a cleanup, residents can call Mobile Outreach at (780)-830-7094, or 3-1-1.
