Volunteers Sought for Fox River Cleanup in Oswego

Photo: Volunteers help clean up the Fox River

Submitted by the Village of Oswego

The Village of Oswego’s Environmentally Conscious Oswego (ECO) Commission plans a cleanup along the banks of the Fox River on Saturday, August 15. ECO is currently seeking volunteers to help clean up the Oswego riverfront, collect trash out of the river and off the shorelines, recycle it or dispose of it properly.

The clean-up will take place along the Fox River, starting at Violet Patch Park, downstream to Hudson Crossing Park, including the confluence of Waubonsie Creek and the Fox River. Volunteers on land will clean the shoreline of public property along the river, including the bike trail and parks. Volunteers on the water will clean the shoreline between these parks.

ECO will award a $25 prize for the most unusual item retrieved from the river.

Volunteers will meet at Violet Patch Park at 10:30 a.m., then divide into teams with specific assigned areas. Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves and wear mud boots; volunteers must wear appropriate, sturdy footwear. Volunteers will continue the cleanup until noon, then get together for lunch at 12:30 at Hudson Crossing Park.

In addition to the ECO Committee, the Prairie State Canoeists (PSC) will lead the clean up on the water, using their own canoes, kayaks and tools supplied by PSC. Car shift will be at 9:30 a.m. from the park on the west side of the Fox, downstream from the Montgomery Dam and upstream from the Mill Street Bridge. Canoeists and kayakers can sign up for the clean-up at: http://www.illinoispaddling.org/trailkeepers.

To volunteer for the Oswego Fox River Rescue, contact Ellen VonOhlen at 630-417-7775 or send an email at eco@oswegoil.org with the subject line “Fox River Clean Up.”