WHEELING, W.Va. -- Operation Downtown 2008 started Friday afternoon at the Market Street Plaza. Volunteers gathered to wash sidewalks, clean up grafitti and do a little landscaping. They set out with gardening gloves and power washers to help give Main and Market Streets some much needed spring cleaning.

Local business people even took the afternoon off work to pitch in.

"Any improvements you can do will definitely help the city. Get businesses back in the area and make everybody happy," said local company employee Peter Quinn, who volunteered for the operation.

City officials hope the clean up efforts will attract new people and businesses to the city.