“The Jungle” refers to a small area of residential housing, bounded by Trolley Place and Trolleyway Street (on it’s east and west respectively), and including the streets Culver, Montreal, Fowling, Rees, Sunridge and Surf. The small sidewalk between the homes had/have deep green overgrowth, which added to the name. In 1977, cherished local community leaders Jeannie Moody and Joann Hudspeth began the Jungle Clean Up. The event was founded as a means for neighbors to interact and participate in making the area an attractive and delightful place to live. After a few years of this growing event, Councilwoman Pat Russell enlisted the City to supply the tools needed to make the Jungle Clean Up a success.
With the dedicated help of volunteers Bob Hughes, Carol Kapp and Maria Reyes, the Jungle Clean Up continued to grow. In 2016, community advocates Lucy Han and Jan Haagen took over the event. Today, the Jungle Clean Up has become a staple annual event that residents, businesses owners and students at Loyola, eagerly await each fall. FOTJ honors the past and present support by Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, Councilman Bill Rosendahl, Councilman Mike Bonin and Councilwoman Traci Park. We also are grateful to the continued support by the many departments in the City and County, including Street Services, Sanitation, Beaches and Harbor, and Public Works.