NATCHITOCHES – Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) has again recognized Northwestern State University’s efforts to beautify campus.  Keep Northwestern State Beautiful received a $7,887 Beautification Grant from KLB with which to enhance the entrance to NSU’s Watson Memorial Library.

This streetscape project will be visible from University Parkway, the main roadway that runs in front of NSU’s Natchitoches campus. At the center of the Watson Memorial Library’s circle drive will be a vibrant, living bouquet of camelias, roses, and Indian hawthorns. The garden is intended to enhance the appearance of the university’s library and surrounding community.

“We hope that the garden will offer a warm welcome to visitors, one that showcases the natural beauty of our state,” said Steven Gruesbeck, NSU’s director of Service-Learning.  “Northwestern State has been successful in receiving several KLB grants to enhance our waste-reduction, cleanup and beautification efforts on campus. There are many ways we can do our part to keep Louisiana beautiful. For instance, registration for KLB’s Love the Boot Week is now open. This is Louisiana’s largest litter cleanup and beautification event. In 2023, 12,777 individuals volunteered a total of 61,493 hours, removing 313 tons of litter in all 64 parishes. In addition to litter removal, volunteers focused on community beautification, planting 370 trees and 3,542 plants and refurbishing 146 gardens.”

Between April 20-28, 2024, Keep Louisiana Beautiful will host the 3rd annual Love the Boot Week. During these dates, volunteers are encouraged to participate in cleanup and beautification projects across the state. The first 300 organizations to register their litter cleanup or beautification event at lovetheboot.org will receive a (no-cost) cleanup kit with supplies including t-shirts, trash bags and gloves.

KLB works with local governments and the national Keep America Beautiful program to bring people together to build and sustain, vibrant, clean communities. KLB’s mission is to promote personal, corporate and community responsibility for a clean and beautiful Louisiana. Through their programs and statewide network of affiliates and partners, the organization provides the tools and resource to prevent litter, reduce waste and beautify spaces. KLB is a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving a cleaner, greener Louisiana.