In this special episode of Straight Talk! filmed at the 2025 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross speaks with Julio Badin, executive director of Gathering Place in Tulsa, Oklahoma—the proud recipient of the Spotless Spaces Award, sponsored by Tork, an Essity brand.
Badin shares how Gathering Place, a stunning 67-acre public park along the Arkansas River, has redefined what cleanliness and guest experience can look like in an outdoor environment. With a mix of open spaces, restrooms, the Williams Lodge, and a full-service boat house, the park maintains indoor-level standards of cleanliness across every acre.
What sets Gathering Place apart? A passionate in-house custodial team, ISSA-aligned training, and a mission that puts cleanliness at the heart of the visitor experience.
Learn what it takes to keep a large public park spotless year-round, the role of training, mission, and culture in delivering pristine results, and how Gathering Place uses cleanliness as the foundation for community pride.
As Badin said: “No excuses. Cleanliness is part of the mission.”
