At eleven locations along the Herring Run and Jones Falls streams and watershed areas in Towson, volunteer crews removed tons of trash at events organized by the Green Towson Alliance on March 25, April 8 and April 22.
Over 250 people came to help, including neighbors in those 11 communities, students from Towson University’s Big Event and from Goucher University, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Board members from Orokawa Y.
State Delegate Steve Lafferty worked for hours cleaning the Herring Run at Overlook Park in Idlewylde, and County Councilperson David Marks helped at the tributary upstream in Knollwood/Donnybrook. Mike Ertel filled his red pickup truck with 75 trash bags in Ridgeleigh, took them to the landfill and went back for more.
The Radebaugh Florist family hosted the crew cleaning the Herring Run alongside the property which will be the new Radebaugh Park south of their store on Burke Ave.
Besides the trash bags filled with cans, bottles, plastic bags and cigarette butts, crews removed a huge tractor tire, a residential mailbox, 2 street signs, sheets of plywood and a chair. At the Herring Run next to Towson High’s playing field, over 40 baseballs were retrieved.
At one site near Towson High, sewage was found to be leaking into the stream.
The cleanup was part of the Alliance for the Chesapeake’s annual Project Clean Stream, and supplies were obtained through Blue Water Baltimore.
Green Towson Alliance organized 8 sites last year, 11 this year, and is looking for volunteers to help with more sites next spring.
Green Towson Alliance consists of active volunteers from most neighborhoods in the Towson area, representing a large population of residents. Its volunteer environmentalists have pooled their collective experience, expertise, unique skills and knowledge to foster a greater appreciation and awareness of preserving the environment in Towson.
GTA works toward a greener, healthier, more beautiful local community.