News

For Immediate Release
April 16, 2021 

RICHMOND, IN. – The Richmond Parks and Recreation Department is inviting the community to participate in various cleanup events throughout the year, beginning with the annual Whitewater Gorge Cleanup on Friday, April 22, 2021 AND Saturday, April 23, 2021. This popular, two-day event attracts volunteers from across the community and provides an outlet for citizens to take an active part in keeping their city beautiful.

Volunteers at the Gorge Cleanup will work together to pick up litter in and around the Whitewater Gorge area from Test Road to Industries Road. This event will take place rain or shine and snacks, water, tools, and bags will be provided. Don’t forget to bring your gloves! The event will also give the community the opportunity to engage and help continue the extensive invasive species removal work done by the Richmond Street Department that has taken place in recent weeks in the Whitewater Gorge.

The Gorge Cleanup Day 1 will begin at 10am and last until 3pm, with check-in starting at 9:30am at the Bicentennial Park Maintenance Garage located at 30 Bridge Avenue. The Gorge Cleanup Day 2 will begin at 9am and last until 12pm, with check-in starting at 8:30am at the Bicentennial Park Maintenance Garage.

Park Superintendent Denise Retz encourages all community members to take advantage of this opportunity, saying “Volunteering in our Parks is a fantastic way to give back to our community, help clean up our city, and to keep our natural environment clean and safe for generations to come! I hope everyone that is able will join us on Friday and Saturday for this event.”

The Parks Department will have a total of four, two-day cleanup events throughout the year. Volunteers can participate for as long as they would like at one or all of these events and give back to their community and the environment. The Department has decided to hold the events of the Cleanup Series in two-day stretches to allow more individuals to participate and to increase the impact of each event.

The 2021 Cleanup Series schedule can be found directly below.

2021 Cleanup Series Schedule

1.  Whitewater Gorge Day 1    Friday, April 23                  10am - 3pm Bicentennial Park
2.  Whitewater Gorge Day 2    Saturday, April 24          9am - 12pm Bicentennial Park

 1.  Middlefork Reservoir Day 1  Friday, May 21               10am - 3pm Middlefork North End
2.  Middlefork Reservoir Day 2  Saturday, May 22           9am - 12pm Middlefork North End

1.  Glen Miller Park Day 1       Friday, September 24          10am - 3pm Glen Miller Spring
2.  Glen Miller Park Day 2       Saturday, September 25      9am - 12pm Glen Miller Spring

1.  Glen Miller Park Day 3       Friday, October 22, 2021    10am - 3pm Glen Miller Spring
2.  Glen Miller Park Day 4       Saturday, October 23, 2021 9am - 12pm Glen Miller Spring

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The mission of the Richmond Parks and Recreation Department is to provide for the positive development and well-being of the Richmond community through the provision of parks, greenways, trails and recreational programming and facilities while working in cooperation with other service providers and partners in the community to maximize all available resources.

For questions, imagery, or for media requests, please reach out to the organizers via the contact details below:

Laura Karnes
Landscape and Naturalist Leader
Richmond Parks and Recreation
2200 East Main Street  | E: lkarnes@richmondindiana.gov
Richmond, IN 47374    |T: (765) 939-1780