GREAT RIVERS GREENWAY INVITES RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN SIXTH-ANNUAL RIVER DES PERES TRASH BASH

The Great Rivers Greenway District, in partnership with the River des Peres Watershed Coalition, Missouri Stream Team, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, and Saint Louis Forward 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. 18, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the five organizations are sponsoring the sixth-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 8:45 a.m. at three locations – Fultz Field, located along the River des Peres Greenway on River des Peres Boulevard between Morganford and Gravois in St. Louis City; Heman Park Community Center parking lot, located in University City at Pennsylvania and Vernon; and the University of Missouri-St. Louis Urban Ecology Trailer, located at the South Campus on East Drive.

The clean-up event will last from 9:00 a.m. to noon with a celebratory lunch taking place at Fultz Field from noon to 1 p.m. Volunteers will also be rewarded with entertainment and prizes for the “best” trash finds in three categories—most expensive, largest, and “weirdest” trash.

“Volunteers at the 2013 Trash Bash cleared eight tons of debris from rivers and creeks within the River des Peres Watershed in less than four hours!” said Susan Trautman, executive director of Great Rivers Greenway. “The final tally included 111 tires, 1.5 tons of scrap metal and 6.5 tons of trash. We are grateful so many residents in the St. Louis area value our neighborhood rivers and creeks and are willing to clean them up. We look forward to seeing long-time volunteers, as well as new faces from across the region, at this year’s Trash Bash as we work together to improve the River des Peres watershed.”

For more information or to register in advance, visit http://www.stlmsd.com/what-we-do/what-can-i-do/stream-clean-opportunities or call River des Peres Watershed Coalition at 314-503-1919.