Tillamook is looking a little brighter, cleaner, and more welcoming thanks to an amazing community effort. More than 70 volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, representing communities across Tillamook and western Washington counties, chose Tillamook for their annual day of service.
Working alongside the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce, the volunteers spent the day cleaning nearly two miles of sidewalks and curbs along Highway 101 North and East Third Street. They cleared overgrown weeds, built-up dirt, tree limbs, and roadside debris, filling two full dump trailers by the end of the day.
While the transformation was immediate, the effort also highlighted a common local misconception regarding who actually maintains our walkways. In Tillamook maintaining sidewalks and curb lines all the way to the street is technically the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, whether that is a local business or a homeowner. Because many folks simply do not know this, these areas often become a “no man’s land” for maintenance. Coordinating dozens of individual property owners along a two-mile stretch of busy highway is a massive undertaking, which is precisely why large-scale volunteer events are so vital: they bridge the gap between individual responsibility and collective community pride without placing a heavy burden on busy residents and small business owners.
This project was a true team effort made possible by many helping hands. We extend a huge thank you to the City of Tillamook for connecting us with the group and providing traffic control support to keep our volunteers safe along busy roads. We are equally grateful to the donors of the Tillamook Chamber Community Foundation’s Beautification Fund, whose generous contributions provided the essential tools, supplies, and a well-deserved lunch for the crew.
While two dump trailers of debris have been cleared away, keeping Tillamook clean and welcoming is an ongoing effort. If you or your organization would like to get involved in a future project, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at office@tillamookchamber.org or stop by the Chamber office to learn more.
You can also support future cleanup projects by making a donation at https://donate.tillamookchamber.org/ or by taking a few minutes to sweep or pull weeds from the sidewalk outside your home or business.
When we all pitch in, small efforts can make a big difference. Two miles of cleaner sidewalks are a great example of what we can accomplish when our community comes together.