Riverside Park received another round of community cleanup Saturday morning as local volunteers collected discarded clothing and litter while finding relatively little drug paraphernalia, cleanup organizer Del Aldridge said.
The August 29 effort brought three new volunteers into the group, adding participants to the continuing work of residents who have been making regular cleanup rounds through Grants Pass parks. Aldridge said volunteers collected a substantial amount of discarded clothing during the morning while encountering only a minimal amount of paraphernalia.
The playground was found in particularly good condition. Aldridge described it as looking “wonderful and clean” as Cycle Oregon visitors were spending time at Riverside Park during their stay in Grants Pass.
“So happy to have Cycle Oregon in our Park,” Aldridge said. “Thank you to every volunteer. We are making a difference in our community and our parks.”
Aldridge also credited the Grants Pass Parks Department for its daily cleaning and maintenance of the park and thanked Pathways for cleaning the public restrooms each day. Those routine services continue alongside the additional work performed by residents who periodically gather to remove clothing, trash and other discarded material from city parks.
The volunteer group will move its efforts to Depot Park for its next cleanup, scheduled for Tuesday, September 1, at 9:15 a.m. Aldridge said changes are also approaching for the property as development proceeds nearby.
“This park will soon be fenced off to be controlled by the new day care center at the Dutch Bros old corporate office,” Aldridge said.
Grabbers, bags, gloves and other cleanup supplies will be available for volunteers Tuesday. Participants are asked to wear appropriate footwear and avoid open-toed shoes because of the possibility of encountering sharp or hazardous debris. Signs will identify where the group is gathering.
If work at Depot Park is completed early enough, Aldridge said volunteers may move on to another park and continue cleaning.
Saturday’s Riverside Park effort added three new participants to the volunteer ranks while leaving one of Grants Pass’ most prominent public spaces cleaner during a particularly active weekend. With Cycle Oregon visitors sharing the park with local residents, volunteers completed the morning after removing accumulated debris and finding the playground already in notably clean condition.