The 2014 phase of the epic Shepherd Parkway restoration campaign started with a bang today.
Three years, hundreds of volunteers, and millions of pounds of trash after we set out to clean-up the most neglected and polluted park in DC, I'm torn between awe at how much we've accomplished and humility about the amount of work that lays ahead. Many of those who have worked with us in those areas of the park that resembles landfills has felt, at least for a moment, that our task, however noble, is quixotic, futile. Today was not one of those days.
We were joined by more 20 volunteers from a church youth groups in Charlottesville, Virginia, 15 students from
Sandy Spring Friends School, several AmeriCorps members and alumni, and Charnice Milton of
East of the River magazine. Look for her story about us in the February issue.
Between of the hours of 10:30 am and 1 pm, we filled a five ton trash compactor truck, and left enough to half-fill another one that's coming on Tuesday. This does not include over 200 tires, which are loaded onto pick-up trucks later in the week for recycling.
Our best estimate of the total weigh of trash we removed from the park today:
17,000 pounds.
We were also joined by Albert Arevalo of the
Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiate at the Alice Furgusen Foundation, which promises to be productive new partner.
