Clean Up Jackson Continues Transforming Jackson’s Overgrown & Littered Spaces

A crew cleaning up a storm drain with Clean Up Jackson.
Photo courtesy of Fondren Renaissance Foundation.

As residents of Jackson, most of us have looked through the car window at one time or another and thought, “Someone should clean that up.” Maybe you noticed litter beside the roadway, overgrown grass in the median, litter in the wooded lot on the corner or under the overpass. You might even have thought about picking up that litter yourself. Maybe you fantasized, however briefly, about getting out there one day and cleaning it up. It would probably take less than an hour. The place would look great. You’d be a hero. But then…somehow it never happens.

Fortunately for Jackson, local realtor Locke Ward actually made it happen. In 2023, Ward formed Clean Up Jackson, an organization that typifies what determined residents can achieve when they step up to reclaim their neighborhoods. 

“I had basically two doctors in my car and they told me that Jackson looked absolutely terrible,” Ward said. “And so I thought to myself as a realtor, if we're going to sell houses around Jackson, somebody needs to step up and try to clean this place up.” 

Ward and some friends and volunteers started picking up litter and swept through the most trafficked and visible parts of Jackson, starting with Interstate 55 and its underpasses. 

A Clean Up Jackson crew cleans up a gutter, removing litter and debris.

Photo Courtesy of Fondren Renaissance Foundation.

“We started cleaning up the highways and the frontage roads, and that led into power washing,” he said. Some of the bridges under I-55 looked like they had been painted black, but now thanks to Clean Up Jackson, every one of those bridges has been washed clean.

With some missions accomplished and many jobs still needing to be done, Ward created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Clean Up Jackson’s efforts, which has helped fund continued initiatives. With efforts like grass cutting dormant for the season, the idea of mulching overgrown lots rose to the surface.

Clean Up Jackson has begun mulching lots to to improve drainage, retain moisture. and many other reasons.

Photo Credit: Jeff Pedigo.

"I said, ‘Let's try the forestry mulching.’ That lasts forever or a longer time," Ward explained. 

The idea was to hire contractors to grind down invasive brush and vegetation on site, leaving nutrient-rich mulch that suppresses weeds, retains moisture, reduces erosion and improves drainage. The approach also opens sightlines, removes hiding spots that can invite crime and creates a natural ground cover without having to haul debris away.

So far, projects have targeted entrances to the city, areas around the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Children's of Mississippi, VA facilities and busier thoroughfares. One standout example is the mulching of the wooded lot behind St. Philip's Church on the corner of Old Canton Road and Westbrook on the edge of LeFleur East. Ward remembered riding his bike in the very same lot as a child, so he called the deacon and offered to mulch it.

"We've been wanting to do this forever," the deacon told him. And after contractors cleared the overgrowth, he was deeply moved. "The guy goes, ‘Man…’ I think tears came to his eyes and he said, ‘This is fantastic,’" Ward recalled. The transformation inspired local Eagle Scouts to further tidy up, build a walking trail and install benches, turning the once overgrown and neglected lot into a small park that churchgoers and nearby residents can enjoy. 

Efforts have extended across Jackson to areas like Fondren North (Northview), lots around the fire station at State Street and Northside Drive and Peola Street across from New Horizon Church. “Fondren was glad to have Locke in the neighborhood recently,” said Doug Boone, Executive Director of Fondren Renaissance Foundation. “He cleaned up several overgrown lots and the storm drains along Northview at Fondren Park are now clear thanks to Locke teaming up with the city’s vacuum truck crew and some volunteers from Quality Irrigation Services.

Both men were quick to mention that Clean Up Jackson also maintains cleared areas to prevent regrowth, emphasizing sustained work over one-time events. Ward now hires professionals for mowing and edging in addition to pressure washing and mulching, while volunteers handle trash pickup and maintenance. Jacksonians can help by volunteering for trash pickups, making donations or simply spreading the word. Ward has managed to streamline operations to keep his full-time job as a realtor going strong. 

"All we really need is funding," he said. "For $1,600, an entire area gets transformed."

Clean Up Jackson has maintained positive relationships with the city as well as the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). Ward has received commendations, including a concurrent resolution from the Mississippi Legislature praising his work, and the group collaborates informally when needed. For a neighborhood, these cleanups mean more than prettier streets, they signal investment and care, boosting morale, improving safety by reducing hazards and crime risks, and making Jackson more approachable for families, visitors and businesses. Fondren’s Doug Boone sums it up: “Jackson is better when we have people like Locke who care about our city."

Donate to Clean Up Jackson at https://www.gofundme.com/f/clean-up-jackson. If you would like to volunteer to pick up litter, no need to contact anybody, just pick a place and pick it up.