COPA Cares and city-paid landscapers to clean up 23 homes

Maricopa will soon have at least 23 fewer homes to look at and wish they were weed free.

Brian Duncan, code enforcement officer for the city, said one eyesore in particular on Windmill Drive in Maricopa Meadows is near the top of the list, and should be looking sharp by Monday.

It’s all part of the COPA Cares program the city launched under the auspices of the Community Services Department and the direction of Marty McDonald – with a little help from Ace Hardware. Ace provided the tools and supplies, and volunteers provide the labor.

The first such projects took place as a pilot effort when 80 volunteers helped pull weeds and straighten yards at 60 properties in the Alterra and Acacia Crossings communities. The idea is to select additional communities, one at a time, until each has had a turn with a team of tool-toting helpers.

The worst homes, however, including one on Windmill Drive and four others, needs a tad more TLC than most. Duncan said the city has hired professionals to clean up those messes, so neighboring homeowners – some of whom are willing to – won’t have to pitch in.

COPA cares will also clean up overgrown weeds and straighten up yards at 18 homes in The Villages at Rancho El Dorado beginning at 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

“COPA Cares benefits the community by bringing people together to assist one another,” McDonald said. “Neighbors are uniting in an effort to help those that are unable to clean their yards, and to help with yard maintenance of empty houses.”

“Maricopa is a community with a heart,” Mayor Anthony Smith added. “And, COPA Cares demonstrates this. As this program expands beyond yard clean-up and into other facets of assistance, it is the community that will come together and make this program successful.”

Those interested in assisting with upcoming COPA Cares projects may contact Brian Duncan at [email protected] or (520) 316-6989.

Photo by Michael K. Rich