Local Concert Series Encourages Beautification

By Clayton Kelley
News Reporter

Many Texas State Students have probably noticed promotions for the Keep San Marcos Beautiful spring concert series on the quad, but some may not be aware of the message behind it.

Amy Kirwin, Keep San Marcos Beautiful coordinator, said as the concert series approaches its sixth year, she is hoping to see an increase in Texas State attendants. The concert series will be every Thursday evening in April in Plaza Park.

“We’ve tried to be consistent with having local musicians and bands play at our concerts,” Kirwin said.

The concert series will be linked together by a different theme which will encourage others to understand the importance of waste removal, Kirwin said.

“The first week (April 7) will be the theme of resource recovery and food,” Kirwin said.

Kirwin said other themes include alternative modes of transportation, Earth Day and water conservation.

Sydney Arguijo, senior marketing major, said she has been a strong supporter of Keep San Marcos Beautiful since promoting the concert series for her marketing class. She said the concert series is a way to bring people together and remind others of the work they can do in waste removal.

“(Keep San Marcos Beautiful is) wanting to focus on how beautiful the city is and how we can keep it that way, rather than highlight that there’s a littering problem,” Arguijo said.

This concert series comes over a month after the recent utility fee that was enforced by the city on March 1. According to the city, the fee charges five dollars for businesses and a dollar for residents and all proceeds go towards environmental projects for Keep San Marcos Beautiful.

“We’re able to add to some of our existing programs which was litter pick­up on I­35 and mowing,” Kirwin said. “We’re also adding some things and changing and getting better recycling containers in our parks.”

Kirwin said she is hoping this event will educate others in keeping San Marcos a green friendly place to be.