JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Leaders in the City of Jackson called on the community to help keep trash off of the streets.

They said illegal dumping and blight has become a problem in the city, and they hope residents will come together to clean up.

Keep Jackson Beautiful will host it’s first “Stop Trashing Jackson” day on March 4. The cleanup event is the city’s latest effort to pick up trash and debris from neighborhoods and public parks.

Leaders hope to recruit about 500 people to take part in the cleanup event.

“I’m calling on the people of Jackson to bond together in one great project of cleanliness, to show the world this place is open for business is an open place, a place to live is open as a place to work. Because we need to take that every block by block, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood. And this city can be revived in such a great way,” said Ron Aldridge, an advisory board member for Keep Jackson Beautiful.