WASHINGTON — Volunteers came out for the annual spring cleanup of Fairfax County, Virginia, parks Saturday, despite forecasts calling for cold temperatures and snow.
Briton Camphouse with The Nature Conservancy said 700 volunteers signed up for the Fairfax County watershed cleanup day to remove trash at 10 county parks, but two of the parks canceled because of the forecast.
Last year, volunteers removed over four tons of trash from nine different county parks. There were 654 volunteers, who collectively worked for 1,600 hours.
Matt Kane with The Nature Conservancy said last year’s event was the largest volunteer event the organization has ever hosted in Virginia, but this year’s event could be even bigger.
Liz Skelley was with family and friends at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Virginia, picking up trash along the creek.
“Several in our group did fall out but these are the hardy ones,” she said.
Her group figured they could deal with the cold for two hours, in order to clean up the watershed, but they also planned to treat themselves to some hot chocolate afterward.
Turner Huston, of Arlington, Virginia, was picking up trash and debris at Huntley Meadows Park as well.
“I was doing this same exact thing on the first Earth Day a long time ago. So I’ve been committed to the environment and trying to save the planet since then,” Huston said.
This year’s cleanup day kicked off Earth Month 2018. Earth Day is April 22.
