CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Downtown Circleville is getting a renewed shine thanks to a collaborative cleanup effort between JC Stone Landscaping and the Circleville Probation Department, continuing a partnership that began three years ago.
At 10 a.m. Tuesday, JC Stone Landscaping owner Josh Cross, his employees, and a team of workers from the probation department met in front of the Circleville Police Department to launch a coordinated trash-pickup and beautification project throughout the downtown district. The cleanup is part of a twice-a-year initiative held in both spring and fall.
Cross said the effort is about giving back and inspiring others:
“I’ve been in their shoes. Volunteering side-by-side with these guys lets me share what I’ve learned and hopefully motivate them to keep moving in the right direction.”
JC Stone Landscaping provides safety vests, gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags, and water for everyone involved—while Cross and his crew donate their labor to work alongside community service participants.
Probation Officers Lily Thomas and Kort Wolfe organize the volunteer crews, with support from Chief Probation Officer Jason McGowan. Cross praised the probation department for its commitment to helping individuals rebuild their lives.
“These volunteers have reached a point in their programs where they’re ready to start giving back,” Cross said. “We get to clean up our city, help restore pride in the community, and show people that change is possible.”
The cleanup focused on the main intersections downtown, business fronts, and the city administration area. Crews also plan to refresh the area around Circleville’s notable murals. In the spring, the team plans to return for weed removal and seasonal landscaping.
The partnership has grown to include members of Hope Valley, whose participants often work alongside probation community-service workers. Cross said the collaboration has a real impact — he even hired a full-time employee through the program’s job-readiness and mock-interview initiative supported by Judge Peters.
Cross hopes the effort will continue to expand:
“Eventually we’d love to see everyday residents—people who aren’t in community service—join us. This is about community awareness and showing what’s great about our town.”
