The Great Rivers Greenway District, in partnership with the River des Peres Watershed Coalition, Missouri Stream Team, and the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, is inviting area residents to join them in their fight to clean up the rivers and creeks within the River des Peres watershed. On Saturday, Oct. 19, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the four organizations are sponsoring the fifth-annual River des Peres Trash Bash, a family friendly event with the goal of improving area neighborhoods and water quality in St. Louis City and St. Louis County.
Volunteers of all ages are needed to clear litter and trash from several sites, including Gravois Creek in Crestwood/Green Park, Deer Creek in Maplewood/Ladue, Engelholm Creek near the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus, the Lower River des Peres along Germania St. in South St. Louis City and the Upper River des Peres in University City. Registration will take place from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. The sign-in location will be Fultz Field, located along the River des Peres Greenway on River des Peres Boulevard between Morganford and Gravois in St. Louis City.
The clean-up event will last from 8:30 a.m. to noon with a celebratory lunch taking place at Fultz Field from noon to 1 p.m. During lunch, volunteers will also be rewarded for their efforts with entertainment and prizes for the “best” trash finds. Prizes will be awarded in three categories—most expensive, largest, and “weirdest” trash.
“The annual River des Peres Trash Bash has shown remarkable growth over the past five years—and we are expecting an even bigger turnout in 2013,” said Susan Trautman, executive director of Great Rivers Greenway. “The St. Louis area is filled with residents who value our neighborhood rivers and creeks. We look forward to seeing long-time volunteers, as well as new faces from across the region, join us as we help improve the waterways and neighborhoods located within the River des Peres watershed.”
For more information or to register in advance, visit www.stlmsd.com/trashbash or call 314-436-8708.
About Great Rivers Greenway:
The Great Rivers Greenway District was created by a vote of the people in 2000 with the goal of making the St. Louis region a better place to live. The public organization is carrying out this goal by creating community connections with the River Ring, an interconnected system of trails and greenways. The District also works to provide transportation alternatives, preserve nature, improve health and increase the economic vitality of the region. Great Rivers Greenway’s district includes St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County. For more information, visit www.GreatRiversGreenway.org.
For more information, contact:
Pamela Powell, The Hauser Group, 314.436.9090
Danni Eickenhorst, Great Rivers Greenway, 314.932.4910