114 volunteers take part in “It’s Our Fox River Day”
At least 114 volunteers participated in Saturday’s successful “It’s Our Fox River Day” event that took place throughout Kane County.
The River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles led a cleanup in coordination with The Conservation Foundation and the St. Charles Park District as part of the event organized by Friends of the Fox River.
The 114 volunteers were part of a single-day effort to collect debris from the banks for the Fox River. Volunteers dispersed to more than nine sites throughout St. Charles after drive-through registration held at Ferson Creek Park.
Small to large trash was recovered, including tires, mattress parts, food containers, beach equipment, fishing gear, and plastic water bottles.
The St. Charles Park District came out in full force with staff, volunteers, and even canoes to collect debris that was inaccessible from land.
“It was a great community effort, and after seeing all of the garbage that was pulled out of there, a huge benefit to the river itself,” said Ryan Solomon, lead ecological restoration technician with the St. Charles Park District. “Events such as this are crucial to restoring previously degraded habitats and will continue to help our beloved Fox River for years to come.”
Other community volunteers also joined with canoes and kayaks to increase the impact of the cleanup.
“The commitment from the community and local organizations to a healthy Fox River is both inspiring and critical for the aquatic life,” said Jessica Mino, Kane County program director for The Conservation Foundation. “On Saturday, you saw the deep connection our communities have to the river, and how much we all appreciate what it provides for us.”
In addition to the St. Charles Park District, the St. Charles Breakfast Rotary Club, St. Charles Noon Kiwanis, and Brownstone Homeowner’s Association united significant numbers of volunteers for this year’s cleanup.
Additional cleanups took place up and down the Fox River from Waukesha, WI, to the confluence in Ottawa, IL, as part of the second annual “It’s Our Fox River Day.”
For more information, please contact Mino at jmino@theconservationfoundation.org or 630)-553-0687, Ext. 203.
The Conservation Foundation’s mission is to improve the health of our communities by preserving and restoring natural areas and open space, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of our environment.
Find out more at theconservationfoundation.org.
The River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles supports and advocates for projects that will enhance the downtown riverfront environment as a destination for cultural, educational, recreational, and economic opportunities that are accessible to all.
Find out more at stcrivercorridor.org.
The St. Charles Park District’s mission is to enrich the quality of life of Park District residents through excellence in programs, parks, facilities, and services. Find out more at stcparks.org.
