Volunteers donned gloves and galoshes on Saturday, Nov. 9, to clean up the city’s trails and waterways for Honor Land and Streams Day. Over 200 volunteers picked up trash that collected in areas that were harder to reach.

“Residents who spend time on the city’s trails noticed the need to pull trash out of these important areas,” said Open Space Stewardship Specialist Kristen May.

Throughout the city, volunteers pulled out everything from water bottles to tires from the city’s creeks like Big Dry and Little Dry and Farmer’s High Line Canal.

“The volunteers were amazing!” said May. “They met at their designated locations and picked up trash for about three hours. The trash they collected into the orange bags will no longer be polluting our trails and waterways.”

Cleaning up the creeks and other waterways is also beneficial in keeping the city’s stormwater system clean.

“Trash in waters can degrade habitats, harm wildlife and may endanger people’s health,” said Stormwater Utility Analyst Jacob Moyer. “To help combat this issue throughout the city, keep litter, pet wastes, leaves and debris out of the street gutters and storm drains – these outlets drain directly to lakes, streams and wetlands throughout our community.”