Lewisville Leader > News
KLB hosts annual trash bash
By Heather M. Goodwin, hgoodwin@starlocalnews.com
After a brief delay, due to health concerns, the 2012 Trinity Trash Bash will be held Saturday.
The event will 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Lake Park. Volunteer opportunities include shoreline clean ups, creek clean ups and a guided kayak cleanup of the Trinity River.
The event was originally scheduled for September, but officials delayed it because of West Nile virus concerns.
"We were concerned about the number of West Nile virus cases in the area," said Becca Purcell, administrative assistant for KLB. "We didn't want to send anyone near stagnant water."
KLB is currently looking for both volunteers and sponsors for this event. All individuals and groups are welcome to join in the effort. Kayak space is limited and reserved for volunteers 14 years old and older on a first come, first serve basis. Children 13 years old and younger may help with other clean up locations along the shorelines and in creeks.
"We often have scout troops come out and help with the clean up. We give out patches to the scouts for participating," Purcell said. "For this year's event, we have a group of 150 Girl Scouts scheduled to participate. We also have a lot of environmental groups from the schools."
Groups will be assigned locations and supplies to clean on the day of the event. All cleanup materials will be provided by KLB. Shirts, door prizes and goodie bags will be given away to volunteers after the cleanup. Volunteers are asked to wear long sleeves, pants, and sturdy tennis or hiking shoes.
"On the day of the event, volunteers will meet at the convenience center, and we'll welcome everyone to the event, talk about what we're doing that day and then give out supplies," Purcell said. "We give out safety vests, litter grabbers and trash bags. The clean up will last about 1 ½ hours. Then we'll meet back up for the rest of the event."
In 2011, 150 KLB volunteers participated in the event and picked up more than 2,820 pounds, or 1.41 tons, of trash out of Lewisville creeks, streams, shoreline, and canals and along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River.
"We're going to blow last year's numbers out of the water. We're looking to double last year's number of volunteers and trash," Purcell said. "I'd credit the jump in numbers to Amy Wells our executive director. She's great at reaching out to the community."
This year, KLB is adding a waterway educational expo to the event with booths from Waste Management, city of Lewisville Environmental offices, LLELA, Army Corps of Engineers, Denton County Master Gardener Association, Upper Trinity Regional Water District, Texas Agrilife Extension Office and more to hand out information about water safety and waterway education.
"We decided that this year was a great time to educate people on waterways," Purcell said. "We're turning this event into much more that a clean up, it's an educational event."
Those interested in participating in the event may register at www.keeplewisvillebeautiful.org or by contacting the KLB office at 972-538-5949 or info@keeplewisvillebeautiful.org.
The event will 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Lake Park. Volunteer opportunities include shoreline clean ups, creek clean ups and a guided kayak cleanup of the Trinity River.
The event was originally scheduled for September, but officials delayed it because of West Nile virus concerns.
"We were concerned about the number of West Nile virus cases in the area," said Becca Purcell, administrative assistant for KLB. "We didn't want to send anyone near stagnant water."
KLB is currently looking for both volunteers and sponsors for this event. All individuals and groups are welcome to join in the effort. Kayak space is limited and reserved for volunteers 14 years old and older on a first come, first serve basis. Children 13 years old and younger may help with other clean up locations along the shorelines and in creeks.
"We often have scout troops come out and help with the clean up. We give out patches to the scouts for participating," Purcell said. "For this year's event, we have a group of 150 Girl Scouts scheduled to participate. We also have a lot of environmental groups from the schools."
Groups will be assigned locations and supplies to clean on the day of the event. All cleanup materials will be provided by KLB. Shirts, door prizes and goodie bags will be given away to volunteers after the cleanup. Volunteers are asked to wear long sleeves, pants, and sturdy tennis or hiking shoes.
"On the day of the event, volunteers will meet at the convenience center, and we'll welcome everyone to the event, talk about what we're doing that day and then give out supplies," Purcell said. "We give out safety vests, litter grabbers and trash bags. The clean up will last about 1 ½ hours. Then we'll meet back up for the rest of the event."
In 2011, 150 KLB volunteers participated in the event and picked up more than 2,820 pounds, or 1.41 tons, of trash out of Lewisville creeks, streams, shoreline, and canals and along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River.
"We're going to blow last year's numbers out of the water. We're looking to double last year's number of volunteers and trash," Purcell said. "I'd credit the jump in numbers to Amy Wells our executive director. She's great at reaching out to the community."
This year, KLB is adding a waterway educational expo to the event with booths from Waste Management, city of Lewisville Environmental offices, LLELA, Army Corps of Engineers, Denton County Master Gardener Association, Upper Trinity Regional Water District, Texas Agrilife Extension Office and more to hand out information about water safety and waterway education.
"We decided that this year was a great time to educate people on waterways," Purcell said. "We're turning this event into much more that a clean up, it's an educational event."
Those interested in participating in the event may register at www.keeplewisvillebeautiful.org or by contacting the KLB office at 972-538-5949 or info@keeplewisvillebeautiful.org.
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