Update for May 19
From 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on May 19 throngs of White Center citizens joined with politicians, law enforcement and the who's who of community involvement to revitalize the neighborhoods of North Highline as part of the 9th Annual White Center Spring Clean, put on by the White Center CDA (and several partners).

Red shirts proudly proclaiming "I love White Center" could be seen throughout North Highline, and the day culminated with good music, great dancing, food courtesy of Chemo's Mexican Restaurant, martial arts exhibitions and a visit from King County Sheriff Steve Strachan.

Volunteer Matthew Krull was typical of many volunteers. Age 13, he is on his way to his Eagle Scout badge with Troop 375 in Burien and was there to repaint many of the aging garbage can lids in White Center. "They are 600 pound concrete garbage cans that have been grafittied or broken and we are repainting them to match the White Center colors of blue, orange and gold."

Darlene Sellers a recreation coordinator with King County Parks was working at Steve Cox Memorial Park with the Evergreen Maintenance team on three projects raking the track with the White Center P.A.L. Boxing team working on that, and planting flowers at the two entrance signs and picking up litter.

Congressman Jim McDermott stopped by and told the crowd, "those of you who live in White Center live in one of the most amazing places in the State of Washington." The Congressman later went to a coffee meeting at Dubsea Coffee at Greenbridge

King County Councilmember Joe McDermott was there and in his T-Shirt ready to work. He praised the organizers and thanked the crowd. Alan Painter, representing Dow Constantine's King County Executive office also spoke briefly.

Xavier Lopez, a mural artist, was working a mural on 107th sw. on the south wall and has completed a design for a White Center Lions Club to be added soon to the wall next to Walt's Mufflers on 17th s.w. He and his father will work on that project.

King County Sheriff Steve Strachan spoke about the initial effectiveness of creating an alcohol impact area in White Center (several stores have volunteered to not sell malt liquor or fortified wine for off-premise use from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.). He said the goal is to improve the business community by lowering public drunkenness.

"This is one of CDA's signature events and we couldn't do it without all our partners," White Center CDA director Sili Savusa said. "It's something the kids can really get into with their parents to not only support and clean White Center, but for people to meet each other and for real bonding to happen between families."

PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR MANY MORE PHOTOS FROM THE DAY

Original post
The 9th Annual White Center Spring Clean – Saturday, May 19, 2012 is an opportunity for youth and elders, business owners and entrepreneurs, long-time residents and recent homeowners and everyone in between to improve White Center’s image by cleaning up the physical environment.

Spring Clean will start with registration which begins promptly at 8:30 AM at the CDA office – 1615 SW Cambridge St Seattle, WA 98106. Please come prepared with appropriate clothes and shoes for gardening, painting, litter cleanup, and more if you'd like to take part.

550 volunteers will receive a complimentary t-shirt, light breakfast, refreshments, and lunch.

At least 22 sites (and likely more) will see work done including:

• Lakewood Park cleanup - 10th s.w. & 112th St. s.w.
• White Center Food Bank - 8th Ave. s.w. and 99th St. s.w.
• CDA Garden - s.w. Cambridge St. and Delridge Way
• WC Heights Elementary - 7th Ave. s.w. and 102nd St. s.w.
• Castle/Roxhill Park - 28th Ave. s.w. & Roxbury St. s.w.
• Welcome to White Center sign - 10th Ave. s.w. and Roxbury St. s.w.
• Garbage can repainting - White Center business district
• Mural repainting - 107th St. s.w. & 16th Ave. s.w.
• Clean up abandoned building - 9445 17th s.w.
• Mt. View Elementary School - 12th Ave. s.w. and 107th s.w.
• General trash pickup - White Center business district
• Window washing - White Center business district
• 10 planter boxes - White Center business district
• Wash abandoned building - 17th Ave. s.w. and 98th St. s.w.
• Bernie and Son's painting - 16th Ave. s.w. and s.w. Cambridge St.
• Unity Vilage s.w. 100th St. and 13th Ave. s.w.
• Steve Cox Memorial Park - 14th Ave. s.w. and 102nd St. s.w.
• Mt. View church cleanup - 12th Ave. s.w. & 108th St. s.w.

There will likely be changes to this list which will be finalized prior to being given to the volunteers.

Also during the event the White Center Wayfinding kiosk, designed and built by Matt Tilton will be installed at the corner of 98th s.w. and 16th s.w.

During registration the event will have guest speakers including: Congressman Jim McDermott, Manager of Unincorporated Community Service Area Alan Painter, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, US Attorney Jenny A. Durkan and Executive Director of the White Center CDA Sili Savusa.

Lunch and entertainment will be provided at the Greenbridge Plaza - 9910 8th Ave SW, Seattle, WA – starting at 12:15 PM.

The White Center Community Development Association extends its thanks to sponsors:
King County Housing Authority, Boeing Employers Credit Union, McLendon’s Hardware, White Center Chamber of Commerce, Impact Capital, City of Seattle Office of Economic Development, Habitat for Humanity Seattle/South King County, Reed Paint, Sherwin-Williams, Samway Market, Lee’s Produce, Safeway, QFC, Saars Super Saver Foods, West Seattle Tool Library, El Dorado West, King County Parks and Recreation, Norwest Graphics, Chemo’s Mexican Restaurant and Seattle Public Utilities.