13th Annual River Des Peres Trash Bash

The Great Rivers Greenway District, in partnership with the River des Peres Watershed Coalition, Missouri Stream Team, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and the City of St. Louis, 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. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the five organizations are sponsoring the 13th 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, Shady Grove Creek, Deer Creek, Engelholm Creek, MacKenzie Creek, River des Peres and the Mississippi River.

Registration will take place from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. at three locations – Fultz Field, located along the River des Peres Greenway on River des Peres Boulevard between Morgan Ford Rd. and Gravois Ave. in St. Louis City; the Heman Park Community Center located at 975 Pennsylvania in University City; and the University of Missouri-St. Louis Urban Ecology Trailer, located at the South Campus on East Drive.

The clean-up will last from 8:30 a.m. to noon with a celebration and appreciation BBQ lunch at Fultz Field from noon to 2 p.m. Volunteers will also enjoy musical entertainment and can receive prizes for the “best” trash finds in three categories—most expensive, largest, and “weirdest” trash.

“Volunteers at the 2014 Trash Bash cleared five tons of debris from rivers and creeks within the River des Peres Watershed in less than four hours!” said Mike Sorth, Director of Conservation & Community for Great Rivers Greenway. “The final tally included 100 tires, 1.5 tons of scrap metal and 3.5 tons of trash. 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 www.riverdesperes.org or call the River des Peres Watershed Coalition at 314-503-1919 or 314-603-8834.