The volunteers keeping Downtown Arlington clean

A tattered American flag. An overflowing dumpster. Overgrown grass. Backed up sewage. Landscaping that could use a refresh. 

These things make an area feel just a little less welcoming, but no one would think to point them out. 

Shannon Ferry-Moser is paying attention to those details others might overlook. 

As a Downtown Arlington Block Captain, Ferry-Moser regularly drives and walks her assigned area, stretching from the north side of the University of Texas at Arlington to Mission Arlington, looking for small issues that can make a big difference in how people experience downtown Arlington. 

"I always like to leave places better than I found them," Ferry-Moser said. 

The Block Captain Program, part of Downtown Arlington's Beautification Committee, enlists volunteers to monitor designated areas throughout downtown and report concerns through the Ask Arlington app. Rather than tackling every issue themselves, Block Captains serve as extra sets of eyes, helping identify problems before they grow and connecting property owners with the resources to address them. 

For Ferry-Moser, who has owned Sterling Real Estate for 18 years, has called Arlington home for four decades and has been a captain for three years, the role fits naturally into her daily routine. 

"I like to have our city look nice," Ferry-Moser said. "I always promote it when I'm showing clients around, and I want it to look nice and inviting." 

That commitment extends beyond simply reporting issues. 

Before Arlington welcomed visitors for the FIFA World Cup festivities, Ferry-Moser noticed several faded and tattered American flags flying outside car dealerships along Division Street. Instead of filing a complaint, she stopped to introduce herself and raise concern for the flags. 

One conversation had a ripple effect. 

"He said, 'Oh. We own eight of the car lots on Division, and we'll just change all of ours,'" Ferry-Moser recalled. "So that was really rewarding to see." 

She had a similar experience at the Chase Bank on Randol Mill Road across from AT&T Stadium. While visiting the branch, Ferry-Moser mentioned to an employee that fresh 

mulch would improve the property's appearance, especially with international visitors expected in the area. 

"It was a couple of weeks later. I came back by, and there was brand new fresh mulch out, and it looked great," she said. 

Jim Burgin, Beautification Committee Chair and Mission Arlington communications person and pastor, said those kinds of conversations reflect what makes the Block Captain Program successful. 

Rather than pointing fingers, volunteers work alongside businesses and the city to solve problems. 

He recalled Ferry-Moser helping address an overflowing trash dumpster near Mission Arlington by working with a local business that had been struggling to keep up with the issue. 

"It wasn't so much of pointing someone out who’s doing something bad or wrong, but discovering that they need help," Burgin said. "The reporting actually benefited everyone, including the owner because the property looked better." 

For Burgin, that collaborative approach is what sets the program apart. 

"It's not an opponent relationship, but of advocacy and support," he said. "And I think folks generally appreciate and value that." 

Ferry-Moser is one of several volunteers serving as Block Captains across downtown. 

Among them is Melina Wikoff, co-owner of The Mosaic Market, whose assigned area covers the blocks north of the railroad tracks and east of Cooper Street. After joining the program last summer, she has incorporated regular walks through downtown into her routine, using them to spot maintenance issues and opportunities for improvement. 

One of the biggest (and stinkiest) problems she helped address was a sewage issue that affected an area of Front Street near her store. 

She also encourages fellow business owners to take advantage of Downtown Arlington's storefront improvement grant program, like Mosaic Market did. After suggesting that Wondrous Works Gift Shop consider updating its appearance to stand out, the business received a storefront grant to paint its building and install new awnings. 

"I'm really proud of our city, and I'm proud of the way that the city has supported this rejuvenation of downtown," Wikoff said. 

The Block Captain Program grew out of the Beautification Committee's goal of preserving downtown as it continues to attract more residents, visitors and businesses. 

"The heart of that team has been to take care of the downtown area and to keep it beautiful," Burgin said. 

He compared the effort to the Broken Windows Theory, the idea that addressing small problems helps prevent larger ones. 

"If you leave a window broken, then more windows get broken," Burgin said. 

He credits volunteers like Ferry-Moser and Wikoff for helping turn that vision into reality. 

As downtown continues to grow, both Ferry-Moser and Wikoff hope more people will step forward to help care for the community they love. 

"I think it's improving the area," Ferry-Moser said. "There's just so much going on downtown that it's rewarding to see. It looks so nice and is becoming a walkable, clean, enjoyable area to spend time in." 

The program and the Ask Arlington app is open to anyone who wants to make a difference. As Burgin put it, "Anybody that has a passion and desire to help can sure be put to work."