Jim Peery, a familiar sight on Newcastle Drive in Sandy, spends hours each day on his motorized scooter cleaning up trash, raking leaves and clearing pinecones. Drivers honk, bikers wave and many know him by sight if not by name. 

His dedication earned him the title of community hero from Chris Haber. 

“Sandy resident Jim Peery is a shining example of community spirit,” Haber wrote. “Despite relying on a mobility scooter, Jim takes it upon himself to clean up the roads and sidewalks.”

Haber continued: “His dedication and selflessness inspire those around him and make Sandy a better place to live.”

Neighbor Monica Petersen agrees: “He keeps the area looking clean and nice. He does a great job.”

Peery, who was previously featured in the Sandy Journal in June 2019, was hesitant to be recognized again.

“I don’t do it for notoriety,” he said. “I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve my community doing this. This is something I can do.”

Community members appreciate his efforts, even creating a “Thank You Jim” banner. 

“All the comments were full of gratitude and love,” said Jeni Hancey Larsen, who along with her father, Jeff Hancey, mounted the sign where Peery cleans. “Jim keeps our neighborhood immaculate, but the clean street is secondary to having him around as a neighbor and friend.”

Wearing one of his 28 bright orange shirts, Peery maintains Newcastle Drive from Highland Drive to Flat Iron Park, four hours a day, six days a week. He adjusts his routine with the seasons —bagging leaves in the fall, clearing debris in spring, and working early in summer to beat the heat.

“Last fall, I raked everything and had 97 big piles. I got my wife Karla to help me bag them up,” he said. “That’s the hardest thing for me.”

Using a homemade wooden scooter and tools including a shovel, broom, tongs and a leaf blower, he focuses on clearing debris.

“My number one thing is trash. I pick up all the trash—banana peels, apple cores, paper, trash that blows out of cans, candy wrappers when the kids walk home from Albion (Middle School),” he said. “The second thing, I pick up pinecones and rocks, because these bikes are going 30 miles an hour down the hill. If they hit a rock or a pinecone, they're going to be on their hats.”

He’s grateful for the assistance he gets from Sandy City.

“The Sandy City crew does an excellent job cutting the grass and blowing it and then, they pick up my bags. My objective is so people can have a nice walk, drive, bike, skateboard and they can enjoy themselves,” he said.

Even with the clean sidewalks, sometimes Peery will take a spill.

“I’ll take a curb or turn too tight, but I’m never down for long. Usually within two minutes, I have a bunch of people stopping to help,” he said. “People are really kind. By being out here, I’ve gotten to know so many friends in the community.”

While neighbors and his grandkids occasionally lend a hand, Peery said, “It’s really my thing.”

Volunteering for Peery began 20 years ago when he began losing his balance while walking and his position as a computer programmer ceased.

It was after moving to Sandy in 2016, when he was inspired to step up as the city planned to paint fences along Newcastle. 

“I thought, ‘Someone should clean that first.’ Then, I thought, ‘I’m someone,’” he said. “I want to help my community. I want to do my part.” λ