Getting to know our City better from the ground up.
Boca Raton City Councilman Andy Thomson is setting out to get to know the City he loves even better, one road at a time. Thomson challenged himself to run every street in the City he serves – ALL 475 MILES – by the year’s end, picking up trash as he goes. The idea started in late 2019, when Thomson brought a trash bag along during his morning run. It has since evolved into a commitment to truly get to know every street, neighborhood, and community from the ground up. While running, Thomson is proactively seeking ways to improve Boca Raton and will be addressing what he observes through his position on the Boca Raton City Council.
By running each street
we can run a better City.
The past year has reminded us of our love for community and the desire to be outdoors. After much of the world spent the year safe at home, Thomson is heading out (safely!) to see what’s working and what isn’t. Boca Raton is a world-class city that is constantly improving, and Thomson is leading with the mentality that even the best can be better.
Along the way, he expects to confront challenges both big and small: from more complex issues like traffic congestion, to little fixes like potholes and cracked sidewalks. Councilman Andy Thomson is ready to step up and work to find solutions. Andy is taking notes on the neighborhood and transportation concerns that he confronts, asking himself: Can we identify real solutions to traffic issues? Could an area be made more pedestrian-friendly? How can we make our City’s major roads safer and more accessible for pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, or those using public transit?
Cleaner Streets Since 2019
The idea to pick up trash while jogging started on New Year’s Day 2019, when Andy made a resolution to run more. On his first run, he noticed all sorts of trash on the streets, so he began bringing a trash bag and cleaning up the streets on his morning runs. He later started bringing his kids, who love the experience and help point out trash as they go. Since 2019, Andy and his kids have cleaned hundreds of pounds of trash from Boca Raton’s streets.
251.87
completed miles
53.03%
complete
699.44
pounds of trash cleaned
436
pieces of PPE picked up
195
volunteers
310
safety improvements identified
Step Up. Join Andy.
As he works his way across Boca Raton, Councilman Andy Thomson is connecting with residents to discuss neighborhood issues. As we run, we’ll clean our streets and collaborate on real solutions to the challenges we face. In the meantime, stay tuned as we develop neighborhood routes and partnerships. If you’re interested in running, walking, or just saying hello, sign up below:
“Even a City as beautiful as Boca Raton has room to improve, whether it’s by addressing issues affecting your neighborhood or just by being a little cleaner.”
-Andy Thomson
Track Andy’s
Progress.
- Streets Remaining
- Streets Completed