Get muddy to get (the river) clean! There will be a Fall In-River Clean Up in Lewisburg Saturday, August 27, from 9am to 3pm, at Soldiers Memorial Park on N Water St at Rt 45.
"Your Tire is Waiting..."
The Lewisburg Neighborhoods Corporation River Town Team focuses on improving the physical and cultural connections between the Borough and the Susquehanna. The Picnics in the Park that have been introduced over the past few years address some of the cultural connection, reminding everyone that the river is right there. And that leisure/recreation activity is complemented by a service opportunity to connect to the river later this month. The River Town Team is organizing its third annual in-river clean up in Lewisburg. The general public is invited to participate.
It can be tricky to plan around unpredictable water levels and weather. But we're hoping things look reasonable for our chosen weekend. In the event that they don't, we've set up an alternate date of Saturday, September 10, also from 9 to 3.
We will meet at Soldiers Memorial Park at 9am on Saturday, August 27. The Park is on North Water Street, next to the Rt 45 bridge. Clean up HQ will be at the northeast corner of the park, in the shade by the path down to the water. There is on-street parking and parking in the neighborhood. Restrooms are available in the Street of Shops and the First Presbyterian Church (for urgent need, not for washing muddy people). For those bringing their own canoe or kayak, cars can be pulled into the park at the curb cut by the railroad bridge access for unloading and then will need to be parked elsewhere. If you are bringing a canoe or kayak OR if you would like to be assigned to a canoe or kayak, please RSVP to elmstreet@dejazzd.com or 570.523.0114, so we can gauge capacity and whether to send some craft to unload at the St George St boat ramp instead.
Volunteers should plan on spending 3+ hours at work. You can help out for the first half or the latter half. At the start -- and morning snacks courtesy of Dunkin Donuts -- everyone will be briefed about trash hot spots and other information, before marching in to wade and ferry. If you'd like to volunteer, but do not want to get in the water, shore helpers will also be needed. We can use the help of people in boats, people wading, and people on shore.
All participants should be ready to get dirty, but wear clothing appropriate to their preferred activity. Everyone should wear sunscreen and a hat. Water shoes or old sneakers are recommended -- and a must for those wading. Flip flops are not suitable as water shoes. Gloves will be useful mostly on land. We have some grabbers available, but if you have one to bring, they are always useful.
People on land can help pointing participants to different focus areas, sorting collected trash and recyclables, taking pictures, coordinating communications, and directing the tire retrieval crew from the bridge. People in boats will work the edges of the islands and banks, picking up litter, and sighting larger items for later retrieval. They can also help ferry large objects down to St George St landing if necessary. People in the water will pull tires and other debris from the bed of the river, much of it accessible at low water at this time of year. Past finds off the park have included a toilet seat, a children’s plastic picnic table, most of a push lawn mower, and a vcr. The 2015 clean up retrieved 92 tires in one day.
