Fairmount Park and its partners will promote recycling trash in several upcoming events in Philadelphia.

Partners in a new recycling program include: The Schuylkill Navy, Keep Philadelphia Beautiful, Philadelphia Streets Department, Water Department and Fairmount Park, who have come together in a joint effort to create a public recycling program.

This environmental endeavor focuses on practicing, as well as educating students and park goers about the importance of recycling. It is a unified effort to keep the park system and water resources clean and offers an outlet for positive change.

The program will offer free recycling bags in an effort to keep trash to a minimum. In addition, the program will provide recycling collection along race routes, which are easily identified by the bright blue containers and clear plastic bags which hold the recyclables. "Recycling Ambassadors" from Keep Philadelphia Beautiful will be present during all races to provide further information concerning the proper use of the containers.

Race participants and spectators are encouraged to recycle their glass, plastic and aluminum items.

Already, the program has established a bright presence in the parks. In its first week alone, over 760 pounds of material were collected at the season's first regatta. It is planned to continue the recycling program through the 5 Manny Flicks and the Stotesbury Regatta leading up to the big college showdowns in May. All are encouraged to come out and support the racers, and keep the parks clean by recycling!

Fairmount Park is Philadelphia's system of parks encompassing over 9,200 acres, all within the City of Philadelphia. Made up of 63 separate parks that range from inner city neighborhoods to vast natural areas, Fairmount Park covers 10 percent of the city's real estate.

For more information, visit the Fairmount Park website.

4/4/2008