Wichita, Kan., July 1, 2025 – Downtown Wichita has launched the Clean Team Pilot Program designed to boost community pride and maintain cleanliness in Wichita’s most-visited neighborhood.

The program, rolled out in May 2025, focuses on keeping public spaces tidy and welcoming for residents, employees, businesses and visitors alike.

As part of this effort, Clean Team members serve as community ambassadors, providing essential services such as litter removal, graffiti cleanup, sidewalk sweeping and general upkeep of downtown’s streetscape.

In the program’s first six weeks, staff covered 370 blocks, removing 1,584 gallons of trash from public spaces downtown and more than 40 graffiti tags from downtown street poles, signage, benches and kiosks. Other work includes weed control and tree pruning.

The Clean Team members, outfitted in bright yellow shirts to ensure they are easily recognizable while working throughout the district, are also available to help with directions and recommendations for downtown destinations.

The initiative aligns with Downtown Wichita’s commitment to cultivating a vibrant and inviting environment that supports local businesses, events and the community.

“Downtown is the heart of our city, and this program is an important step in ensuring it remains a clean, safe and attractive destination,” said Downtown Wichita Executive Director Heather Schroeder. “The Clean Team will play a key role in caring for our public spaces, so they reflect the energy and pride of our community.”

The Clean Team Pilot Program is generously funded by Fidelity Bank.

“A clean and inviting downtown is essential to the prosperity of our hometown,” said Aaron Bastian, president of Fidelity Bank and a Downtown Wichita board member. “We are proud to support the Clean Team Pilot Program for the benefit of all Wichitans, because investments like this build community pride and help our businesses thrive.”

The program will continue through December 2025, after which the organization will analyze the data collected by the team to assess the program's efficacy and determine long-term maintenance strategies.

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About Downtown Wichita
Downtown Wichita is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that amplifies the energy, capital and growth of downtown by empowering residents, visitors and businesses to explore the possibilities of the city’s core. Collaborating with stakeholders, the organization stimulates continued investment and interest downtown and connects resources from the private sector and local government that allow commerce and culture to thrive. For more information, visit: https://downtownwichita.org/home.