Category: Clean-Ups

Looking Ahead to the New Year

Last year was one of change for the American River Parkway Foundation. At the request of our supporters, we took a more proactive approach regarding addressing illegal camping on the American River Parkway. Since submission of our Demand Letter in January 2022, we have pushed forward, bringing greater attention to the issue. This has led to media coverage locally and nationally, increased effort by local elected officials and municipal staff to address the issue, and funding locally and from the state focused on mitigating the impact of illegal camping. See the Full Timeline of Our Actions We are proud of what we have achieved, but none of this would have been possible without the support of the community. This includes members of the Voice of the Parkway Coalition – comprised of concerned Parkway users, businesses, corporations and organizations – advocating for the conservation of the Parkway. But our work was not limited to just our public affairs efforts. We have also made great strides in addressing the fire danger on the Parkway. Our Parkway Fire Safe Council has worked together to begin developing plans for mitigation. This includes the creation of a community wildfire protection plan – funded in entirety by the Parkway Foundation – that will identify areas for fire breaks, restoration and mitigation. This will allow all Parkway stakeholders to seek more funding to address fire issues on the Parkway. Our volunteer programs also continued to have a growing impact. Over 4,400 volunteers spent more than 13,600 hours on direct conservation of the Parkway, including clean-ups, invasive plant removal, trail maintenance and more. This is done through work with individuals, groups, families, businesses and others interested in conservation, project ownership, team building, family bonding and community service. (See list of accomplishments below.) With your help, the new year will bring more accomplishments. In 2023, look for the Parkway Foundation to: Replace the mile marker signs on the Parkway with new, more informative directional signage. Continued conservation of the Parkway through our volunteer programs, especially addressing impacts from flooding during this stormy period. Continue development of the community wildfire protection plan. Continue to educate the community about the Parkway. Continue to work with local elected officials and County and City leaders to secure land for shelter spaces and push for wrap-around services. Continue to invest in the Parkway through the TEICHERT-Parkway Fund, which is contributing $100,000 in 2023 to projects that will revitalize the Parkway from Cal Expo to Discovery Park. Thank you for being a part of this vital mission through volunteering, financial support and helping to spread the word about the beauty of the Parkway. Together we can continue in our mission to lead and inspire the community to conserve and nurture the Parkway as a unique, accessible resource for everyone to enjoy. Dianna Poggetto Executive Director, American River Parkway

Thank You to Everyone who Helped Make GARCU 2022 a HUGE Success!

  Thank you to everyone who helped make the Great American River Clean-Up a success this year!   1,308 Participants 41,245 Pounds of Trash Over 30 Pounds Per Person   Removing trash from the American River Parkway has tremendous environmental benefits. It reduces the amount of pollutants – like battery acid, microplastics and Styrofoam – that enter the environment, decreases the amount of trash in our waterways, protects water quality and removes hazards that are a danger to wildlife. This year’s event was held at more than 20 locations along the Parkway. Some of the more interesting things found during the clean-up include dentures, a pellet rifle, a car door and a hand forklift. The Great American River Clean-Up is held during the California Coastal Cleanup, a larger statewide effort to clean our waterways. The event takes place every September.   Thank you to our sponsors. Carmichael Water District Gold River Community Association Sacramento Suburban Water District SMUD   Thank you to our volunteer groups representing: American Heritage Girls Troop CA1271 Butterfield Riviera East Community Association California Conservation Corps Capital Tech Solutions El Parkis Youth Group Five Star Bank Fort Sutter Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG) Girl Scout Troop 4028 Jackson Labs Pepperdine Sacramento Waves Rotary Club of Arden-Arcade Rotary Club of Sacramento Rhombus Sac State Softball Team Sac State Student Environmental Organization Sacramento Picks It Up Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps Scout Troop 8 Scout Troop 447 Target Tzu Chi USA Sacramento Service Center UC Davis Law Students Association Union Sacramento FC United Way California Capital Region Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento And thank you to all of the individuals, families and other groups that gave up part of their weekend to help our Parkway. Without your support, we would not have been able to accomplish what we did. See the full press release for more details and photos.

More Than 39,000 Pounds of Trash and Debris Removed by Volunteers During the Great American River Clean-Up

Over 1,300 members of the Sacramento community joined in the largest annual clean-up of the American River Parkway.   SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Dentures, golf clubs and a hand forklift were just some of the items removed from the American River Parkway (Parkway) during the American River Parkway Foundation’s (Parkway Foundation) 19th Annual Great American River Clean-Up on Saturday, September 17. In all, 1,308 volunteers removed 39,645 pounds of trash. That’s more than 30 pounds per volunteer.   The Great American River Clean-Up is the largest annual clean-up of the Parkway. This year, there were over 20 locations stretching from Discovery Park to Black Miners Bar in Lake Natoma. Families, groups and individuals of all ages and sizes attended the clean-up, removing clothing, batteries, plastic, styrofoam and other trash and debris.   “The American River Parkway is a true urban jewel. The American River Parkway Foundation is able to accomplish what we do on the Parkway because of our volunteers,” said Dianna Poggetto, Parkway Foundation Executive Director. “Thank you to the businesses, groups, families and individuals that dedicated part of their Saturday to make the Great American River Clean-Up a success.”   Some of the most interesting items found during the clean-up this year: Dentures A car door Nice pair of dress shoes Hand forklift Pellet Rifle Golf clubs Pickaxe   The Great American River Clean-Up takes place every year in conjunction with the California Coastal Cleanup, normally held the third Saturday of each September. It is part of the Parkway Foundation’s overall Parkway Clean-Ups program.   More details about Parkway Foundation programs can be found at www.ARPF.org/Programs   About the American River Parkway Foundation The American River Parkway Foundation (Parkway Foundation) is the only nonprofit organization focused on active conservation of all 23 miles of the American River Parkway (Parkway). Through managing programs like volunteer clean-ups, infrastructure improvements, trail maintenance, fire mitigation and education, the Parkway Foundation leads and inspires the community to conserve and nurture the Parkway as a unique, accessible resource for everyone to enjoy. Learn more at www.ARPF.org.   — ### —  

Great American River Clean-Up 2021

On Saturday, September 18, 2021, more than 800 local residents removed 23,000 pounds of trash along the river in the span of just three hours for the annual Great American River Clean-Up (GARCU) in conjunction with the California Coastal Commission’s annual statewide clean up event. Volunteers of all ages gathered to collect trash and debris from Discovery Park to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery. Not only is trash unsightly for American River Parkway visitors, it pollutes our waterways, disturbs natural habitats and harms wildlife. The total weight of garbage collected was the equivalent of about a school bus! Amidst this massive haul were some unusual items, including a prom dress, a yarn voodoo doll and a side chair with matching ottoman. The 2021 GARCU event was held from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at 17 different locations along the 23-mile long Parkway. Participating groups included: Sacramento Valley Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Employees of Hearst Broadcasting Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Members Church of God International Grounded. CGI Consulting Metro Edge Sacramento Association of Realtors Student Action Club at Del Oro Sac State Student Environmental Organization Sac State Community Engagement Center Girl Scout Troop 3997 Students of Jesuit High School Gold River Community Association GARCU is our largest annual clean-up event. For nearly 40 years, we have invited the community to take part in this statewide movement that mobilizes tens of thousands of volunteers throughout California to clean up trash from local beaches, lakes and waterways. In past years, up to 2,100 local volunteers have come out to help remove debris from multiple areas along the river, highlighting why the Parkway is the greatest civic amenity in this region. Our financial sponsors are an important part of APRF volunteer efforts, providing funds for supplies, such as trash bags, nitrile gloves, hand sanitizer, first aid kits, water and snacks. For more information about volunteering for or sponsoring a Parkway clean up event, please contact us at (916) 486-2773 or email volunteer@arpf.org.


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