We’re entering into one of the most beautiful times of the year: early summer, when Boston’s citizens congregate outside to enjoy the warming weather and celebrate the start of the summer season. That’s why last month Boston’s community came together to clean the streets of Boston through the city’s Boston Shines program.

I want to thank everyone who joined this effort to beautify Dorchester’s streets and get us ready for a safe, fun summer.

Thousands of volunteers, including business, community groups, and residents, took to their streets to lend a hand in making Boston shine. Across the city, over 4,600 Bostonians helped in the cleanup in a total of 156 projects over the span of three weekends. The pride that the people of Dorchester take in their neighborhood is evident in the amount of work you put into your neighborhood cleanup.

In Dorchester, more than 1,200 volunteers completed 31 projects. The impressive result was more than cleaner streets; it showed that through civic pride and participation, we can improve the quality of life for residents throughout Boston.

Thank you to each and every one of you who helped make this project a success. Thank you as well to the Boston Public Works department, which delivered tools, mulch, and trash pickup to the locations. The Boston Parks Department also pitched in throughout the events, as did the Boston Redevelopment Authority and Boston’s Environment, Energy and Open Space team.

In addition, our business partners provided great assistance to Boston Shines, showing their commitment to a beautiful Boston for all. Thank you in particular to the H. Levenbaum Insurance Agency, the city of
Boston Credit Union, New Boston Ventures, Home Depot and Delta Dental.

Boston Shines represents the great things that we can accomplish when we work together as a community. I thank all the volunteers again for their help in working to clean our streets. I enjoyed doing my part to make sure Boston shines.

Martin J. Walsh is mayor of Boston.