The City Wire Person of the Month: Pope keeps it clean in Van Buren and beyond

Editor’s note: The City Wire will highlight each month a person in the Fort Smith region. Special recognitions, accomplishments, philanthropic support and many other factors will be considered when selecting a person to profile. Input from The City Wire readers also will be considered. Craig Pair was the inaugural recipient of The City Wire Person of the Month.

story and photos by Roy Hill

John Pope is a clean freak.

He’s director of Keep Van Buren Beautiful, and vice chair of Keep Arkansas Beautiful.

Originally from California, Pope moved to Van Buren to be closer to the extended families after he retired from a career in politics and community affairs, including a stint with the planning commission for Garden Grove, Calif.

“My wife’s uncle transferred back here to Arkhola Sand & Gravel, and came here visiting family, and decided to move here when I retired,” Pope said. “I just love this state.”

Three years ago, Pope was one of 35 concerned residents of Van Buren who met at the King Opera House as part of the City Pride group, which eventually produced Keep Van Buren Beautiful.

“I was retired,” Pope said. “I said ‘I’ll do it,’ and the next thing I know, was director.”

As director, Pope has initiated Van Buren’s cigarette litter prevention program, and secured a series of grants to purchase cigarette butt urns and place them in front of city businesses. Van Buren is one of only three Arkansas cities participating in the nationwide program, along with Sherwood and Hot Springs.

To bolster efforts at controlling cigarette litter, Pope was a prime force behind the passage of Act 1500 in the most recent session of the state legislature. The Act provides a tax credit for businesses to purchase cigarette butt urns for their storefronts, but the act was passed only after the immediate funding was removed in an amendment.

Robert Phelps, director of Keep Arkansas Beautiful, a commission within the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, lauded Pope’s efforts on the local and state levels.

“John’s interest and experiences sparked beyond Van Buren and into Act 1500,” Phelps explained. “He’s been very effective on not only on his local level, but contributing to our commission.”

Pope has also worked close with the local school district to create a recycling program in 13 local schools.

“We went from zero recycling to 174 tons of waste recycled and kept out of the landfill,” Pope said. “As far as I know, we have the largest school district as far as tonnage, and we’re one of only two areas in Arkansas where the entire district participates in recycling.”

One of the largest cleanup efforts Pope organized involved more than 80 volunteers connected with Coleman Junior High — along with help from Lowe’s and Greensource, which oversees solid waste management in the River Valley area. The Coleman football team and Booster Club collected more than 32,000 tons of e-waste, old computers and electronics and related material during the spring.

Pope sees a chance for Keep Van Buren Beautiful to enhance the business climate in the city and the county beyond.

“The whole purpose is as an economic development group,” Pope said. “The appearance of a city is a viable economic factor.”

To that end, Pope continues to find ways to involve community businesses, working with Summit Hospital, Rhodes Chevrolet and the A&P Commission.

“We’re open to any business who wants to be involved,” he said.