Annual Programs

January: Trees for Allen

Keep Allen Beautiful in a cooperative effort with the Allen Parks and Recreation Department has developed the “Trees for Allen” beautification and reforestation program. Beginning in January each year, Allen residents may order shade trees at a low cost for planting in open access areas such as front yards. Organizations are encouraged to buy trees to beautify other open landscape areas in the community and donated trees can be given to the City for planting in parks and greenbelts. Tree orders are delivered by the Parks and Recreation Department.

Download the order form here.

Trees for Allen sale has been extended. Limited quantities of trees are still available! Please fill out the order form above and send in or bring to the first floor of City Hall, 305 Century Parkway.

March: Arbor Day Celebration - Sat. Mar. 5th

Spring is the time for the annual Arbor Day Celebration, a City of Allen Parks and Recreation Department event, sponsored in part by Keep Allen Beautiful. The Arbor Day Celebration is held in a new location every year, but always features tree plantings, kid crafts, and guaranteed fun.

This year's Arbor Day Celebration will be at the Allen Public Library on March 5 from 9 a.m. to Noon, with Howard Garret speaking from Noon to 1:30 p.m.! Click here to learn more.

A statewide Arbor Day Poster contest was held this year for 4th and 5th grade students. Congratulations to this year's winners!

5th Grade

1st place - Renee Cole, Vaughan Elementary
2nd place - Naira Ikram, Norton Elementary
3rd place - Ashleigh Secrest, Vaughan Elementary

4th Grade

1st place - Emma Hernandez, Norton Elementary
2nd place - Erin Kang, Norton Elementary

Allen winners were presented prizes and certificates at City Council by Mayor Terrell and Keep Allen Beautiful. They will also be honored at the Arbor Day Celebration.

For more information on Arbor Day, contact Urban Forestry at 214.509.4833 or Kathy Keller-Mielke, Education Specialist at 214.509.4552.

April: Great American Cleanup

This is the largest cleanup and clean out event in Collin County! The Great American Cleanup is a community event held nationwide every April encouraging residents to clean-up and clean-out.

Trash of all kinds is accepted and metals, computers, household goods, brush, cardboard and shoes are recycled and kept out of the landfill. Household goods, cell phones, and eyeglasses are accepted for reuse. Paper shredding services are also available. This year's event hosted a medication collection at City Hall. View this year's event flier.

Participants must show current City of Allen water utility bill and driver’s license. City and Community Waste Disposal employees are on hand to help unload residents' items. Junior High and High School students needing volunteer hours are encouraged to volunteer in many capacities. Please call 214.509.4551 with questions regarding this event.

This year's event was held Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Bossy Boots Drive from 8 a.m. to 1p.m. Shredding and medication disposal services were located at City Hall. 1376 residents and more than 1200 volunteers and workers participated in the event. Thanks to all attendees and those who helped make this event such a success!

November: Allen Recycles Day

Allen Recycles Day is an annual event held the first Saturday in November, making this year's event November 5. Keep Allen Beautiful sponsors a Recycled Art Contest for Allen ISD students, grades K-12. Winners are awarded prizes at a City Council meeting.

Middle School and High School students are encouraged to receive volunteer hours by helping with landscaping projects in the yards of Allen residents and conducting cleanups around town. Please contact Amanda Mattle at 214.509.4555 to volunteer.

Bring items for reuse and recycle on November 5, 2011 from 8 am - 1 pm in the City Hall parking lot. Click here to view the event flier to see last year's event information, participating organizations, and accepted items.

Adopt a Highway

Keep Allen Beautiful has sponsored an Adopt a Highway program in Allen for over 12 years. Roadway signs let motorists know that someone is caring for that particular street, and this sense of ownership is shown to reduce litter. Volunteers get involved in the stewardship of their piece of Texas. This is an extraordinary private-public partnership that benefits all citizens by cleaning and beautifying roadways. It significantly reduces litter cleanup costs, thereby saving taxpayers' money. The City of Allen currently has about 50 adopted or adoptable roadways.

Are you or your organization interested in adopting a roadway in Allen? We require you adopt a one mile stretch of roadway, which must be cleaned a minimum of four times per year, including the two city-wide cleanup events in April and November. For more information, call 214.509.4554.

Adopt a Waterway

Litter isn't found only on the side of the road--it's in our waterways, too! Creeks, rivers, and lakes provide recreation, water for our homes, crop irrigation, and beautification. Litter and debris in our waterways can harm aquatic life, block storm drains which could lead to flooding, harbor disease carrying insects, and pollute our water source.

Are you or your organization interested in adopting a waterway in Allen? The City of Allen currently has 4 adopted waterways, but many more are available. We require you adopt a one mile stretch of waterway, which must be cleaned a minimum of four times per year, including the two city-wide cleanup events in April and November. For more information, call 214.509.4553 or 214.509.4554.

Adopt a Spot

Many neighborhood parks are in need of litter-care and beautification. Just like litter found along roads and waterways, litter in parks is not only an eye-sore, it can lead to more serious effects. Keep Allen Beautiful is pleased to present a new Adopt a Spot program, allowing interested organizations to adopt a "spot" in Allen. A park is typically selected to perform litter cleanups and possibly plant and upkeep of a Smartscape garden. The spot must be cleaned a minimum of four times per year, including the two city-wide cleanup events in April and November. For more information, call 214.509.4554.

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