It’s been a long winter, but the snow is finally disappearing. As the grimy last remnants of that once white stuff melt away, some of winter’s dirty little secrets are exposed: food wrappers, empty cans, bottles and the ubiquitous cigarette butts. This debris not only ruins the view but it also harms the environment. That is why St. Paul Parks and Recreation and neighborhood organizations are partnering on Saturday, April 9 for the annual Citywide Spring Cleanup (formerly known as the Spring Parks Cleanup and Neighborhood Litter Campaign).
The Citywide Spring Cleanup event will kick off with events at Como Park Lakeside Pavilion, located at 1360 North Lexington Parkway and Phalen Park Pavillion, 1600 Phalen Drive, (because of flood predictions, Kickoff Celebration locations have changed from previous years). Volunteers are invited to arrive at 8:30 a.m. for a half-hour event. Trash bags will be distributed and there will be coffee, doughnuts and prize give-aways. Volunteers should bring a pair of work or garden gloves.
Based on previous year’s numbers, a couple of hundred people are expected to attend the event at Como Pavilion. Many will stay to pick up litter along the shores of Como Lake and elsewhere in the park. Others will fan out to other sites around the city. For example, College Park in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood is a popular spot for spring clean up. Most people will finish gathering litter by 11. Garbage bags are left behind in the park for collection by Monday.
Meghan Manhatton of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation says that there are no restrictions on where people may clean up. She encourages people to pre-register at www.stpaul.gov/parks/environment so that they have some idea of how many garbage bags to provide, but people are also welcome to just show up that morning and to clean up at any park or along any street or sidewalk they know that may need the attention.
To register for the Citywide Spring Cleanup event, click here or contact Meghan Manhatton at (651) 632-2459 for more information.
| Neighborhood Notes are updates about what’s happening in Twin Cities neighborhoods, submitted by our volunteer neighborhood correspondents (and neighborhood residents), and not edited by the TC Daily Planet. Click to learn more about our neighborhood correspondents, or about becoming a neighborhood correspondent. |
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