By Heather Lusk
Last year, Zionsville residents pulled a ton of trash from Eagle Creek, literally removing more than 2,000 pounds of waste from the local waterway.
Volunteers will have a chance to help clean the stream again Aug. 27 for the annual Creekfest.
Zionsville Stormwater Program Manager Gavin Merriman said that last year, less trash was collected than the previous year and hopes the amount will continue to decline.
“We have this fortunate problem where Eagle Creek is not horribly littered with trash,” Merriman said. “We’re hoping to continue to have this annual Creekfest celebration whether or not we are able to pull a bunch of trash out of the creek.”
“Eagle Creek’s just an incredible resource that we have here,” he said. “It’s about getting people out there to enjoy it, to get a better appreciation of it, so hopefully, when they walk away, they say, ‘Eagle Creek’s pretty cool’.”
The stream cleanup will begin at 9 a.m., followed at 10 a.m. by water- and conservation-related activities at Elm Street Green, such as kayak demonstrations and a DNR casting station. Kids are invited to participate in the creek stomp to splash and play in the creek. Dumpster Drummers, a performance art group teaching adults and children about the importance of environmental conservation, will provide entertainment until the event ends at 1 p.m.
The Elm Street Green activities are open to the public and are not limited to those who have volunteered to assist with cleanup.
For planning and logistical purposes, volunteers are encouraged to register for the cleanup at www.zionsville-in.gov/447/Creekfest. Zionsville Pizzeria will provide lunch to all registered volunteers.
Volunteers will check in at Elm Street Green and will be directed to various clean-up locations, some of which may be accessed by buses provided by ZCS.
