Features

It's your creek—here are two easy ways to help remove trash from Sligo Creek Park

1: "Carry in-carry out"

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's (M-NCPPC) and Montgomery County Planning Board Chairman Derick P. Berlage announced on July 22 that, except for regional and recreational parks, all parks operated by its Montgomery County Department of Park and Planning will be subject to the "Carry-in, carry-out" program for trash removal, beginning this winter.

Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park is one of five pilot parks for the program. Sligo Creek has been operating under the "Carry in, carry out" policy since September 2002. On December 1, trash cans will be removed from all county neighborhood, local, stream valley, and conservation parks. Removal notices, shown here, are posted on cans around the park.

County officials hope that park users, by bringing bags or other containers to carry their trash out of the park after visiting, will become partners with park management in sharing responsibility for managing solid waste and improving the park environment.

"By reducing the amount of trash collected and hauled to a landfill site, the Department is reducing its dumping costs, redirecting limited personnel into other work, and removing a source of litter by birds and other animals," said Berlage. "The result will be a safer, healthier, more pleasurable experience for all park visitors."

For more information, go to www.mcparkandplanning.org.

2: "Sweep the Creek"

Saturday, September 13 is Sweep the Creek day for Sligo Creek. From 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., members of the Friends of Sligo Creek organization will sponsor litter collection at 10 locations along the eight-mile stream. Last year's event drew over 350 adults and children, and as this photo illustrates, several tons of trash were collected from the water and surrounding parklands.

"We invite volunteers to clear the stream of discarded bottles, fast-food containers, and an amazing variety of other litter and trash," said Sally Gagne, President of Friends of Sligo Creek. "We provide gloves, bags, and buckets, and of course, we'll have water available. We especially want kids to have a good time at the Sweep, so we've hidden some treasures for them to find and take home."

Again this year, Friends of Sligo Creek plans a concluding celebration at 11:30, to be held near the intersection of Kennebec Avenue and Sligo Creek Parkway. Prizes will be awarded for such distinctions as the section collecting the most trash and the most unusual piece of trash.

Sligo Stewards, volunteers who lead FOSC's work year-round, will guide those who show up to help in the Sweep. There will be sign-in and supply locations at 10 points throughout the park.

Flyers will posted throughout the park, providing information on where to go to take part. The full list of sign-in locations throughout Sligo is available at www.fosc.org or by calling 301-649-7266.