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A community of cooperation came together at the Lucas development Jan. 11 to clean up trash, debris and dilapidated trailers that litter the small, 50-resident community outside of Milton.
Residents and friends of the Lucas development partnered with First State Community Action Agency and the Department of Correction to start cleaning up a neighborhood that has been used as a dumping ground for many years.
Sharon Winstead, who owns land on Sam Lucas Road in the Lucas development, recently returned to her property after two years away to find that it had become a dump. Her parcel of land was littered with everything from old metal machinery to tree limbs and decrepit trailers. Winstead said she hopes to live on the property again, but first it has to be cleaned up. She plans to bring in a new manufactured home and landscape the area so it is a place her grandchildren can play.
“I want to clean it up and get it livable,” said Winstead. “All this trash makes it an eyesore. People think this is a dump site because of all the trash, but it could look nice.”
Other residents in Lucas development are working to clean up the entire development as well, said Sharon Griffin-Harmon, president of the Lucas Development Civic Association.
“It’s a process, but we are doing it little by little,” said Griffin-Harmon. “People don’t respect this community at all, so they just dump here and no one is here to watch.”
Griffin-Harmon said part of the project is installing “No dumping” signs as well as and road signs. The street has no signs indicating a speed limit or children playing, she said.
She also wants to work with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to help residents who don’t have sewer or water at their homes. And, landscaping, streetlights and road paving will be the final piece of the puzzle, she said.
The Department of Corrections, which frequently works with First State, contributed to the work by sending workers who did a large part of the debris removal.
But it all costs money. The dumpsters, transportation to the landfill and tipping fees all add up, said Griffin-Harmon, but the community has received help from the county, state and First State Community Action Agency.
State Rep. George Carey, R-Milford, also helped by donating some funds and the transportation officials donated bags for trash.
“Our goal is to get the community to work together,” said Bernice Edwards, executive director of First State. “By the community getting organized we can prevent things like this from happening again.”
Lucas residents have gotten started on the track to a better community, said Michelle Harris, community development specialist for First Sate. They have organized and formed the civic association and have set out some strategic plans for what they want to accomplish, she said.
A plan for the future is the first step to creating a better, healthier and cleaner community, said Harris. But there is still a lot more to be done.
To donate to the Lucas development project or for more information, contact Johnson at 302-855-9819 in Georgetown.
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