Everyone is invited to help spring clean the town this weekend.
The annual Sheep River Valley Clean-Up and Tree Planting takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 6, beginning at Ethel Tucker Centennial Park. The event is open to people of all ages, and families are encouraged to bring everyone out to participate – even Rover, if he’s on a leash.
After the clean up is finished, a free barbeque takes place back at Ethel Tucker park where some participants will receive prizes from random draws.
“Everyone is welcome, and we always get lots of kids,” said Leah Chant, Okotoks community services assistant. “In the past we’ve had between 200 and 300 people, so we’re hoping for the same if not more.”
Registration begins at 9 a.m., and as soon as people are signed in they can hit the trails with their garbage bags and gloves. Everyone who registers in the park will be given a designated area of the river valley to clean, she said. Volunteers can also pre-register online at www.okotoks.ca.
Once clean up is finished, or if a bag gets full, garbage bags can be tied off and left on park pathways or next to garbage cans for Town parks staff to collect later, she said.
Those interested in planting trees with Town arborist Gordon White should be ready to go shortly after 9 a.m. Space is limited for the tree planting, which has become very popular at the annual clean-up event.
“We’ll be planting 3,000 trees in the river valley, which is always a very popular thing people do,” said Chant. “We’re asking people to bring their own shovels and proper footwear if they want to do the tree-planting portion of it.”
At noon, there will be hotdogs and burgers at Ethel Tucker Park for all clean-up volunteers, she said.
Some sponsors have also stepped forward to provide treats, she said. Tim Hortons will be there in the morning with coffee, hot chocolate and treats, and Cobs Bread will also have some goodies available.
For those who are unable to help in the river valley, community clean-up opportunities are also available, she said.
Anyone interested in cleaning up a specific park or neighbourhood can re-register online and pick up their supplies at the Okotoks Recreation Centre before Saturday, she said. Their garbage bags can be left on park pathways or next to waste receptacles in community parks, she said.
“Then they can go ahead to their neighbourhood or their park to clean up and they don’t have to come to Ethel Tucker Park,” said Chant. “It gives people a chance to pitch in even if they’re not available in the morning or can’t get down there.”
