Our Story

Keep Johnson City Beautiful (KJCB) is the result of decades of dedicated efforts by our community to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of Johnson City, Tennessee. It all began in the 1980s when forward-thinking citizens recognized the importance of organized environmental preservation. This led to the formation of the Boone Lake Association and annual lake cleanups. By 1989, Johnson City made history as the first municipality in Tennessee to launch a voluntary curbside recycling program, setting the stage for an enduring culture of sustainability.

The momentum continued in 2008 when East Tennessee State University (ETSU) established its Department of Sustainability. The department spearheaded campus-wide recycling programs and became an advocate for reducing energy, water usage, and litter both on campus and in the surrounding community.

In the mid-2000s, community leaders and the City of Johnson City saw the value of aligning with Keep America Beautiful (KAB), leading to the first official formation of KJCB. By 2010, KJCB launched impactful programs like “Graffiti Hurts,” which organized volunteers to repaint and clean graffiti downtown, and “Sprucing Up for the Holidays,” a seasonal beautification effort. Other initiatives included “PC 4 Me,” which provided refurbished computers to local students, and the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, which installed ash receptacles downtown and distributed 400 pocket ashtrays during the Blue Plum Festival. Additionally, the ambitious 10,000 Trees initiative distributed 4,000 trees that same year.

These early efforts earned national recognition, with KJCB receiving the President’s Circle Award from KAB in 2011. KJCB’s success inspired the growth of other sustainability and environmental organizations throughout Johnson City and the region.

However, as community priorities shifted in the late 2010s, KJCB became inactive. Despite this, the spirit of environmental advocacy endured. In 2022, Visit Johnson City and ETSU partnered to host Beautification Day, a citywide spring cleanup. After two successful years, it became clear that the community needed a unified organization to champion sustainability and beautification efforts.

In December 2024, after a dedicated community-led effort, KJCB was proudly re-affiliated with Keep Tennessee Beautiful. Starting in early 2025, KJCB will embark on a renewed mission to create a sustainable future for Johnson City.

We invite everyone to join us in this exciting chapter. To get involved, click the Get Involved button at the top of the website and help Keep Johnson City Beautiful!