Want to take part in the 26th annual effort to clean up North Carolina? The statewide event is officially held on Saturday, Oct. 6, but cleanups run through most of the month in Wake County and are in need of volunteers.
Saturday, Oct. 6
CARY
Black Creek, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at 9 a.m. at the N.W Maynard Road Black Creek Greenway Trailhead Parking Lot, across from Godbold Park between Harrison Avenue and Chapel Hill Road. Participants will be split into groups and sent out to sites along the greenway. Some car travel is required. RSVPs requested to Zone Captain Christy Perrin at 919-515-4542 or christy_perrin@ncsu.edu
Bond Lake at Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Boathouse and work until noon. Registration is limited! To register, call 919-469-4100. Bond Park is located at 801 High House Road, Cary, NC 27512 between Cary Parkway and Maynard Road, across from St. Michael's Church.
Multiple Locations throughout Cary, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Join fellow citizens to keep our community litter free! Join us at one of our town-sponsored locations or identify a location of your choice such as a greenway, park, or your neighborhood. We welcome groups and individuals. Gloves, trash bags, safety vests, and trash grabbers are provided. Part of the Spruce program, Cary’s Fall Litter Sweep is a local effort to participate in the statewide NC Big Sweep. To register for this event, contact Zone Captain Sarah Justice at 919-469-4301 or sarah.justice@townofcary.org.
GARNER
Lake Benson and Swift Creek at Lake Benson Park, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Join area volunteers in cleaning Lake Benson and Swift Creek watershed. Volunteers should wear closed-toed shoes and bring drinking water & sun protection. Help beautify your community by participating in this cleanup that is appropriate for families with children ages 5 and up. Meet at White Deer Park Nature Center to register and pick up supplies. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., biscuits will be provided to volunteers! Clean-up begins at 9 a.m. and lasts approximately 2 hours. For more information, please call 919-661-6892 or email sshaffer@garnernc.gov. Directions: White Deer Park is located at 2400 Aversboro Road, Garner, NC 27529.
MORRISVILLE
Lake Crabtree at Lake Crabtree County Park, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at 9 a.m. at Boat Rental Complex to clean up one of Wake County's most popular lakes! Gloves, trash bags and data cards will be provided. Cleanup continues until 12 noon. To register, call 919-460-2723. Directions: Lake Crabtree park is located at 1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560. From I-40, take Exit 285 (Aviation Parkway). Go south towards Morrisville, away from airport. Proceed downhill less than 1/4 mile and turn left at the light into park. Once in park, take fourth right to go to Boat Rental Tower.
RALEIGH
Durant Nature Park in North Raleigh, Perry Creek, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Park Office at 9 a.m. to clean up one of Raleigh's most popular parks! Gloves, trash bags and data cards are provided. To volunteer, contact Zone Captain Amy Corbally at 919-870-2871 or amy.corbally@raleighnc.gov. Directions: Take US 1 north to Durant Road, turn left onto Durant Road. Go about a mile and turn left onto Camp Durant Road (North entrance). Proceed to parking lot (about a half mile). The Park Office is on the eastern end of the parking lot.
Falls Lake at Blue Jay Point County Park in north Raleigh, 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers meet at 9 a.m. for distribution of supplies. Cleanup begins at 9:00 am until 12 noon. All volunteers, age 8 and older, must pre-register by calling 919-870-4330 or emailing bluejaypoint@wakegov.com and must bring a signed Big Sweep Volunteer form with them (see website). Blue Jay Park is on Falls Lake off Six Forks Road in north Raleigh. Directions will be sent to participants that register with the park.
Lake Johnson at Lake Johnson Park, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Boat House on 4601 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh, NC 27606 for distribution of gloves, trash bags and data cards. For more information, please call 919-233-2121.
Marsh Creek near intersection of Brentwood Road and Stoneybrook Drive, 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Sleep in or catch your fave cartoons! Meet Zone Captain Parnell Bell of the Blue Phoenix Group on the bridge at 11 a.m. Gloves, trash bags and data cards will be provided. Wear clothes & shoes that can get dirty and wet. Please dress for the weather. To pre-register, contact Parnell at (919) 878-5122. Directions: From I-440 Beltline, take Capital Blvd./US 1 North exit. Travel north, away from downtown. Turn right onto Brentwood Road. See Post Office on right, then turn left onto Stoneybrook Drive. See new bridge over Marsh Creek and park here on side of road.
Richland Creek in western Raleigh, 9 a.m. to noon. Join the Umstead Coalition in cleaning Richland Creek! Meet at the Loblolly Trail Head parking lot on E. Stephen Stroud Way (off Edwards Mill Road by Arena) in west Raleigh. Supplies & instructions will be provided. Questions? Contact Zone Captain Jean Spooner at 919-602-0049. Visit web site for additional information: http://umsteadcoalition.org/streamwatch.htm Directions: From Blue Ridge Road, turn onto Reedy Creek Road (across from Art Museum). Turn LEFT onto Edwards Mill Road at light. Go under I-40. Turn LEFT at Arena entrance (E. Stephen Stroud Way). 20-space parking lot is on LEFT just after you cross Richland Creek.
Sunday, Oct. 7
RALEIGH
Yates Mill Pond at Historic Yates Mill County Park, 9 to 11 a.m. Adult volunteers are invited to join park staff in ―sweeping up trash from around the roads surrounding Historic Yates Mill County Park to protect the Swift Creek Watershed. Please arrive at 9 a.m. and come prepared for the weather, wearing proper clothing and footgear. Since this is a roadside cleanup, adults only, please (over 18 years old). Gloves, trash bags, recycle bags, and data cards will be provided. To volunteer, please call 919-856-5638. Directions: From I-40 Beltline, take Lake Wheeler Road exit #295. Travel south approximately 3.2 miles. See last chicken house on right at NCSU Research Farm. Park entrance on right at 4620 Lake Wheeler Road. (If you reach Penny Road intersection, you've gone too far!) From Ten-Ten Road, turn north on Lake Wheeler Road. Travel approximately 3.87 miles. Park entrance on the left at the top of the hill.
WAKE COUNTY - SOUTH
Harris Lake at Harris Lake County Park in New Hill, 2 to 5 p.m. Volunteers age 6 and older meet at 2 p.m. at the park office for distribution of supplies. Gloves, trash bags and data cards will be provided. Wear appropriate clothing for shoreline cleanup – no open-toed shoes! To sign up to volunteer, call 919-387-4342 or email harrislake@wakegov.com. Groups of more than 6 must provide at least 2 days notice for preparation. Small groups or individuals may call by Sunday morning. Directions: Take Highway 1 South to Exit 89 - New Hill Road. Park is 3 miles on the right.
Saturday, Oct. 13
CARY
Swift Creek at Ritter Park, 8:45 a.m. until noon. Join the Cary Central Rotary Club in cleaning Swift Creek that runs through Cary’s Ritter Park. Meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Rotary Shelter to sign up and receive instructions and supplies. Pre-registration is required by Oct. 10th by contacting Zone Captain Doug Lewis at douglas.g.lewis@att.net
Saturday, Oct. 20
RALEIGH
Lake Wheeler at Lake Wheeler Park, 9 a.m. to noon. Come clean up the shoreline and park grounds of Lake Wheeler! Check in at 9 a.m. at the waterfront program center. Volunteers will clean up until noon. Gloves, trash bags and data cards will be provided. Please wear appropriate clothing for cleanup (no open-toed shoes.) Questions? Please call the park office at 919-662-5704. Directions: From Beltline I-40/440, take Lake Wheeler Road exit and drive south for 5 miles. Enter park on right-hand side at 6404 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh, NC 27603.
