More than 50 Aurora area volunteers, adults, and children celebrated “Earth Day of Service,” by removing litter Saturday, April 26 at Aurora and Montgomery parks and lakes and along Fox River banks.
Community cleanup locations were Waubonsie Lake Park and Trail in Aurora and Montgomery canoe and kayak launch. Cosponsors were Fox Valley Park District, Aurora Lions Club, Kiwanis Club of Aurora, The Neighbor Project and Rush Copley Medical Center. The park district provided trash bags, grabber tools, latex gloves and a first aid kit.
Melissa Harrison, assistant director of park operations, reported that 33 volunteers at the Montgomery site collected 740 pounds of trash in 56 garbage bags. At Waubonsie Lake Park, 21 volunteers picked 236 pounds of trash, Harrison said.
At a pre-cleanup sendoff, Harrison provided volunteers with safety tips and “important reminders.” Safety tips included “Do not enter the Fox River, or any of our lakes, for any item” and “Please be aware of uneven terrain.”
Aurora Lions Club participants were Randy Brown, president; and Amy Zabel, Tom Muth, Jared Campbell and Saul Olivas. Bill Donnell, retiring Aurora Fifth Ward alderman, was among other volunteers.
Harrison said the park district will continue the spring cleanup, a 15-year tradition, next year.
—Al Benson