As part of a series of cleanups, PA CleanWays, with funding provided by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, organized two illegal dumpsite cleanups in Mingo Creek County Park, Washington County.

PA CleanWays, Washington County Department of Parks and Recreation and Nottingham Township joined forces with Weavertown Environmental Group, Williams Landscaping, Karr Dumpster and Flatbed Service, Mountain Valley Trail Riders, and Greenridge Landfill to remove 54 tons of trash, 3.5 tons of scrap metal, and approximately 800 tires from an illegal dumpsite along Sichi Hill Road over a four year period.

The dumpsite was on Mingo Creek County Park property and was an eye sore to park visitors. The dumpsite is the result of years of improper disposal by a local business and local residents. The dumpsite dates back to the 1950’s and was active for 30 years.

Items found in the dumpsite included used oil filters, tractor and car tires, household trash, glass bottles, engine parts, and old farm equipment.

The cleanup was a combined effort that started out with Washington County Department of Parks and Recreation removing the tires through the Great American Cleanup of PA 2007. Then PA CleanWays worked with Williams Landscaping along with generous donations from Nottingham Township, Karr Dumpster and Flatbed Services, and Greenridge Landfill to remove the bulk of the trash and scrap metal in the fall of 2007.

In the summer of 2009, the Weavertown Environmental Group participated in River Sweep to remove more scrap metal and a dumpster full of trash. Williams Landscaping finished removing more trash and scrap metal in the fall of 2009.

An additional volunteer cleanup will be held in the spring of 2010 to hand pick the smaller items from the forest floor. This volunteer cleanup will be coordinated by PA CleanWays newly formed chapter PA CleanWays of Washington County.

Mingo Creek County Park is part of the Washington County Park System and is 2,400 acres of woodlands and meadows with Mingo Creek running through the park. The creek is stocked with trout each year providing fishing opportunities. The park also has two historic covered bridges (Ebenezer and Henry) which is host to the annual Covered Bridge Festival.

Besides providing area residents with a great family park with playgrounds and picnic areas, Mingo Creek County Park also has 15 miles of multi-use trails and is home to the largest amateur observatory in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The observatory is operated by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh.

Mingo Creek County Park is also part of Pennsylvania’s growing system of Greenways throughout the state. Through the Pennsylvania’s Greenway Program established in 2001, nearly half of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are currently developing plans for greenways and open space with their respected counties.

A greenway is a linear corridor of open space. Some greenways are land trails for hiking, biking, and other forms of recreation. Others are water trails. Still others serve to protect the environment and are not designed for people to use. A riparian buffer corridor – a protective zone of vegetation along the banks of rivers, streams, and lakes – is an example of that type of greenway.

With all these fantastic attributes, the importance of keeping Mingo Creek County Park a viable greenway area is apparent as urban sprawl threatens the landscape. This natural getaway enables visitors to the park to reconnect with nature.

To learn more about PA CleanWays of Washington County and the work PA CleanWays is doing throughout the state to eliminate illegal dumping and littering in Pennsylvania, visit our website.