Beautification in the 18th Ward
The 18th Wonder Improvement Association is committed to creating cleaner, greener, safer streets across Millmont, Oakbrook, Wyomissing Park, and the broader 18th Ward. Our beautification work strengthens neighborhood pride, supports public health, and ensures that residents, families, and visitors experience a welcoming environment. Through youth leadership, community partnerships, and targeted environmental initiatives, we are building a model of neighborhood care that can be replicated across Reading and beyond. Beautification is a collaborative effort
The Green Team
The Youth Green Team Program, launched in Spring 2022 with its first full cohort that summer, is one of our most transformative initiatives. Beginning with ten young residents eager to make a difference, the program has grown into a powerful model of youth leadership, environmental stewardship, and community pride. As described in our operational framework, the Green Team was designed “to instill a sense of awareness, ownership and pride in our youth and families regarding their home and the larger environment,” while providing hands‑on education in recycling, waste reduction, and environmental care.
Green Team members — ages 14 to 17, often joined by their parents — work 16 hours a week, cleaning litter, maintaining public spaces, and supporting beautification projects throughout the 18th Ward. Youth receive uniforms, tools, safety equipment, training, and supervision, and are paid stipends for their work, including a savings incentive for completing the program. Although the work is demanding, “the youth perform this task in order to give back to their community and learn valuable lessons and skills such as teamwork, inclusion, community pride, leadership, work ethic, and setting an example for other young people.” Tanya Melendez
The Green Team also plays a vital role in addressing blight — a major challenge in the 18th Ward — by reducing litter, improving neighborhood aesthetics, and strengthening community safety. Their work is supported by the street‑sweeping efforts, creating a comprehensive approach to cleaner, healthier streets. Beyond cleanup, the program prepares youth for long‑term civic engagement and leadership, aligning with research showing that youth organizing builds future community leaders and strengthens population health. The Green Team’s structure, training model, and community‑organizing approach are designed to be scalable and replicable, offering a blueprint for other neighborhoods seeking to empower youth as agents of change.
Street Sweeping Initiative
The Street Sweeping Initiative is privately funded - including professionally licensed drivers. This supplemental program was created to keep the 18th Ward cleaner, safer, and more welcoming for families. We are thankful for this 100% donated initiative. Building on the City of Reading’s Wednesday sweeping schedule, this initiative expands coverage to seven days a week, including evenings and weekends, across 32.2 miles of streets in Millmont, Oakbrook, and Wyomissing Park. Because the program is privately supported, residents never need to move their vehicles, and the service can operate flexibly based on neighborhood needs.
Weekly coordination with the City ensures alignment, while local businesses are invited to sponsor routes and invest directly in cleaner streets. Early partners, including Masano dealerships, have already contributed to the effort, helping us reduce litter & microplastics, improve neighborhood appearance, and strengthen community pride throughout the 18th Ward. This initiative works hand‑in‑hand with the Green Team to create a seamless, year‑round approach to beautification.
Beautification is a community effort
and we need you.
Residents, families, businesses, and youth can participate through:
Green Team volunteer days
Neighborhood cleanups
Sponsoring street‑sweeping routes
Supporting pollinator gardens
Joining 18th Wonder as a member or partner
Volunteer Form
