Most of the time projects are only as good as the people involved. In that case, the first county-wide cleanup was a first-class event.

In its inaugural year, the event that grew out of Ironton’s Volunteer Day and incorporated several other longstanding community cleanups, has to be considered an overwhelming success.

Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste District coordinator Dan Palmer and his staff deserve much of the credit for their work in making this project something that truly lived up to its name and incorporated people from all walks of life.

But the highest praise goes to each and every citizen — from the youths to the senior citizens — who sacrificed part of their Saturday morning to get their hands dirty and make Lawrence County a better, cleaner place to live.

The support was tremendous, far surpassing any recent event of this nature.

From civic groups to school groups to community organizations to just concerned citizens, residents showed how important they think this is by coming out in unprecedented numbers.

Hopefully this is only the beginning.

Each and every person involved should take it personally and work all year to maintain this civic pride — and challenge friends and neighbors to do the same.

This event planted the foundation. Now it is up to all of us to nurture this community pride and keep it growing.