DuPage River Cleanup: BHA Organizes 3-Hour Event Sunday

PLAINFIELD, IL — The month of September is designated Public Lands Month by the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, and throughout the state and in Plainfield, residents and visitors regularly enjoy nature's offerings. In an effort to take care of the beloved areas, the local nonprofit group is organizing a cleanup of the DuPage River from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.

The BHA has designated three locations where people can join the cleanup. People joining can partake in Shorewood, at West Shore Park, Turtle Hill Park and the park district area on the east bank. People who own their own canoe or kayak can start at the Hammel Woods Route 59 access point, 554 Brook Forest Ave., exiting at Four Rivers, 25055 W. Walnut Lane, in Channahon. Kayaking can be done as a group, starting at 9 a.m., John Acott, the treasurer for the group's Illinois chapter, told Patch.

"With our organization, we're hugely interested in public lands and access but in the charitable component, we're the caretakers of the land," Acott said of the first-annual cleanup.

Organizers also said any area on the DuPage River where people might visit recreationally can be cleaned up. Maps of the possible cleanup areas can be found on the BHA website.

Acott said it doesn't matter where people clean up "as long as everyone contributes and does something for the wellness of the river," adding he hopes people will keep the river clean and pristine.

People who attend the cleanup also have the chance to win a Rep Your Water BHA hoodie by posting a picture of their trash collection to social media and tagging @il_bha. Drawings for the sweatshirt will be completed by Oct. 5.

Following the DuPage River cleanup, people can meet at the Will County Brewing Company, 1142 W. Jefferson St. in Shorewood.

Though not necessary to participate, people can RSVP for the cleanup here.

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