The annual Marsh Creek Cleanup Day traditionally sponsored by the city of Brentwood and Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed (FOMCW) is getting a helping hand this year from neighboring Oakley, and local officials in both communities are asking for volunteers to lead the effort in the organization and implementation of this eco-friendly event.
After a lot of thought and consideration, we decided to change our annual creek cleanup event from May to September so that we can do it with Brentwood and also to make it part of the International Coastal Cleanup, which is held on the same day (Sept. 20), said Lindsey Bruno, recreation specialist for the City of Oakley. We really wanted to make this a community-wide event.
Organizers for both the Brentwood and Oakley events are looking for volunteers to make phone calls, send e-mails or run errands, as well as meet over the summer to coordinate the community picnic, gather donations of food and supplies, recruit volunteers for the day of the event and organize publicity.
Basically what we're trying to do is encourage the community to take ownership of the creek cleanup on an annual basis so that it becomes an event that the community can get behind and support, said Mary Grim, FOMCW coordinator. It's just a great feel-good day.
The cleanup event has been a long-standing tradition in Brentwood, where hundreds of volunteers turn out each year to pick up debris along the trails and creek banks, followed with food and entertainment in nearby Creekside Park.
This year, the city of Oakley, which has participated on a smaller scale in the past, has decided to make the cleanup a bigger event for the town, and will simultaneously hold its cleanup party at several locations, including Oakley's Creekside Park, presently under construction.
The reason for promoting the project so far in advance, said Grim, is to allow residents time to help with the organization and coordination of the expanded event.
At this point we're just trying to get as many volunteers for the event as we can and get things going, said Grim. It really is a fun event. It's the one time a year when you can get out there and get legally dirty for a great cause.
For volunteer opportunities and other event-related information, call the city of Oakley at 925-625-7041, the city of Brentwood at 925-516-5444, or the Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed at 925-325-2908.
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