The annual city of Loveland waterway cleanup will take place Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9 a..m. to noon, and will include waterways that have traditionally been addressed as well as new locations added to the city’s open spaces.
There will be four stationary check-in locations: Centennial Park at 977 W. First St., Civic Center Park at 500 E. Third St., World Beverage at 3655 Garfield Ave., and High Plains Environmental Center at 2698 Bluestem Willow Drive.
There also will be two mobile check-in locations: Boyd Lake Outlet Ditch, located on Sculpture Drive just north of the Fifth Street roundabout, and Ward Boise Open Space, located just west of Boise Avenue north of Colorado 402.
Check -in will begin at 8:45 a.m. at all locations.
The Centennial Park location will be east of the pavilion. Volunteers there will clean the north side of the Big Thompson River on the east side of Taft Avenue and the south side of the river along the bike path from Wilson Avenue to Washington Avenue.
Small groups will be assigned to Jay Hawker Ponds and Quarry Lake.
The Civic Center Park check-in location will be located near Foote Lagoon. Parking will be available in the south lot. Volunteers will focus on the Chubbuck Ditch that runs south of the city of Loveland complex from Washington Avenue to 7th Street and Boise Avenue to Interstate 25.
The World Beverage check-in location will be located south of the building, and parking will be available south of the site. Volunteers will focus on the Dry Creek Ditch, beginning at 37th Street to Horseshoe Lake and west from 37th Street south to 29th Street.
Small groups will be assigned to clean the north portion of Dry Creek.
The High Plains Environmental Center check-in location will be located at the nonprofit’s offices. Parking is available along Piney River Drive. Volunteers will focus on cleaning trash and debris around Equalizer Lake and Houts Reservoir.
The mobile Boyd Lake Outlet Ditch check-in location will be located just north of the 5th Street roundabout. Volunteers will clean the ditch from Highway 34 to the Big Thompson River.
The mobile Ward Boise Open Space check-in location will be located just west of Boise Avenue approximately north of Highway 402. Volunteers should look for the city truck behind the fenced area.
Volunteers will clean a portion of the Big Thompson River located west of Boise Avenue in the newly acquired open space.
Participants at all locations between the ages of 13 and 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult or must bring a pre-signed liability form. Children between the ages of 6-12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Volunteers are advised to wear old clothes, work gloves, hats, work boots or waders if possible. Volunteers should bring small tools such as shovels or rakes, but garbage bags, water, some hand tools and gloves will be provided.
Volunteers are advised to be cautious as much of material that needs to be removed is entwined with tree branches and limbs covered by sand and dirt which could hide boards with nails and other sharp objects.
The City of Loveland’s Stormwater Division offers several opportunities for the community to become involved in maintaining clean waterways including annual volunteer clean-up events.
To participate, visit www.cityofloveland.org/volunteerevents.
Julia Rentsch: 970-699-5404, jrentsch@reporter-herald.com
