The Clarion River Municipal Partnership, PA CleanWays of Elk County, and PA CleanWays are looking for volunteers to participate in the Clarion River Annual Litter Cleanup on August 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This cleanup will help to protect water resources, decrease health risks associated with illegal dumping and littering, and improve the scenic quality of the Clarion River Greenway to the benefit of all users and will focus on the shoreline between Wilcox and Cook Forest State Park in Elk and Forest Counties.

The Clarion River offers local communities and tourists a scenic view of Pennsylvania’s mountains, serpentine valleys, and hardwood forests, the feeling of remoteness, a prehistoric animal footprint, the attraction and variety of recreational opportunities, and a rich history.

It also offers 110 miles of area for illegal dumping and littering; however, this will not be the case anymore.

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.

The Clarion River Greenways serves all of these functions and connects the Allegheny National Forest and bordering open spaces to each other and the places where we live.

Greenways also create entirely new ways of accessing and enjoying our land and water resources. The goal in Pennsylvania is to develop a distinguishable system of greenways that connects open spaces across the state, similar to our interstate highway system.

Funding for this cleanup has been provided by the Stackpole-Hall Foundation and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

In addition, local donations have been secured to-date by BiLo Foods of Ridgway, Cook Forest State Park, CRMP/Millstone Township, Elk County Solid Waste Authority, PA CleanWays of Elk County, PennDOT of Clarion, Elk, and Jefferson Counties, and Veolia Environmental Services.

Donations are also being accepted by PA CleanWays of Elk County at 300 Center Street, P.O. Box 448, Ridgway, PA 15853, or 814-776-5373.

Youth ages 12-17 years must have a signed PA CleanWays Parental Consent Form prior to participating. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Volunteers should wear long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy shoes.

Volunteers are asked to meet at 8:30 a.m. at one of the following meeting sites: South entrance of Bendigo State Park (SR 1004, near Johnsonburg), 11624 River Road, Sigel, and 4-Mile Launch (3.5 Miles on River Road from PA-36, Cook Forest State Park, Cooksburg). Look for cleanup signs near the parking areas.

Volunteers are asked to register their participation by August 20 with Pearl Wetherall at 814-927-5735 or online at the Clarion River Cleanup webpage.

7/25/2008