Volunteers Sought for 6th Annual Fish Creek Cleanup Challenge on Feb. 24, 2024

By Susan Schrock, Office of Communications

Posted on February 14, 2024, February 14, 2024

Editor's Note: This article, originally published Jan. 18, was updated Jan. 23 to announce the event was postponed from Jan. 27 to Feb. 24 because of rising creek levels and continued rainfall.

Organizers for the upcoming 6th annual Fish Creek Cleanup Challenge are seeking volunteers to collect discarded cans, glass and plastic bottles, paper and other debris littering the banks of the southeast Arlington creek.

During this year’s cleanup challenge, scheduled between 8 a.m. and noon on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, event organizer Angel Carter said she is hopeful that hundreds of volunteers will once again turn out to tackle the litter problem along an 8-mile section of the creek covering both Arlington and Grand Prairie.

In the past five years, 2,626 volunteers have cleaned up more than 65,800 pounds of trash from the creek and surrounding properties. But a walk along the creek banks today shows why volunteers are still needed, Carter said.

“People are still littering. There’s still trash in the trees and the tree roots in the creek. If you want to be part of the solution, we invite you out to Cravens Park. We are coming together to clean the creek,” Carter said.

The opening ceremony and safety briefing for volunteers on the Arlington side will be held at 8 a.m. at Craven Parks, 400 Cravens Park Drive. Grand Prairie volunteers can meet at the playground across from 4355 Allegro Lane at 8 a.m.

The cleanup is a family friendly event, with no minimum age to participate, Carter said. Much of the trash is lightweight, such as plastic bags, Styrofoam cups and paper. Volunteers are asked to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, closed toe shoes or waterproof boots and any preferred tools, such as trash grabbers.

“It is always cold, so we suggest volunteers dress in layers. Closed toe shoes are required and rain boots or waterproof shoes are recommended for those who want to get in the creek,” Carter said. “And as always, anyone can participate in litter cleanup anywhere along Fish Creek, Fish Creek Linear Trail and the parks and schools that are along it. Just make sure to get the bags to the paved trail so that the employees from Parks and Recreation can be sure to collect it and add it to the dumpsters that will be weighed at the end of the cleanup.”

Cleanup supporters include The Mission Continues, USAA, St. Andrews UMC, Texas Veterans Network, Webb Masonic Lodge, Republic Services, the City of Arlington, the City of Grand Prairie, and many more.

Event organizers and supporters are providing gloves, trash bags, and a limited number of tools. Click here to visit the event Facebook page for other important information and for the links to pre-register as a volunteer.