BERKELEY – Usually, rain is seen as something that washes away stains. But the rain doesn’t wash garbage out of parks, it just moves it to another part of the park.
This is why volunteers held a recent clean-up at Dudley Park in Berkeley. Clean Ocean Action holds two such official beach sweeps every year. They’re held in spring and fall – before and after beach season.
However, there’s been a bit of bad luck with the weather not cooperating lately. In spring, there was thunder and lightning, making it too dangerous to be walking around the trees with grabbing hooks. The most recent one was rainy as well, which meant that a contingent of Central Regional High School kids weren’t able to come.
Members of the township’s Waterways Advisory Commission organized the event, and had a Clean Ocean Action representative there as well.
Volunteers braved the weather to make a difference. (Photo by Chris Lundy)
Township employees dropped off some supplies in the morning and were coming back to pick up the garbage, said Beth Collis, one of the organizers.
But before that happened, the volunteers separated the trash and inventoried it. Clean Ocean Action keeps records of what gets collected at these events as a way to guide its advocacy.
There were a few notable items found in this fall’s clean-up. Apparently there was a water balloon fight at some point and the debris from that was found all over, Collis said.
The volunteers also found quite a few single serve bottles of liquor, like Fireball. These are often found discarded in parks and on the side of the road.
Clean Ocean Action noted that a record 74 beaches and shorelines were cleaned during the fall beach sweep.
“Our ocean is in peril on many fronts from plastics to climate change to ocean industrialization. Defending the ocean can be daunting, frustrating work, but to have volunteers from the small to the tall commit such uber-dedication is awe-inspiring! I know our ocean is in good hands and it empowers us to battle on,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action.
They also collect a Roster of the Ridiculous, recording the weirdest things found on the beach. The winner from the spring beach sweep was a toy dinosaur created in 1962.
Dudley Park has some beautiful views, but there’s trash sneaking into this photo. (Photo by Chris Lundy)
More Clean-Ups & Fundraisers
The annual Berkeley Shores Road Clean-up will be held on November 4. Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of the H&M Potter School, located at 60 Veeder Lane. This is a new date since the previous one had been postponed due to weather. The goal is to clean up the grass side of Veeder Lane and Bayview Avenue. The event ends at 11 a.m.
It is suggested that the cleaners wear long pants, long sleeves, and a head covering as well as insect repellent. Gloves, vests, trash bags, and grabbers will be provided by the township. The full bags will be left on the side of the road to be picked up by town workers. Cleaners should not go into the woods to collect the trash.
At the same time, there will be a food drive from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the H&M Potter School, located at 60 Veeder Lane.
“The food pantries in our area are struggling to keep up with the demand. This is our chance to step up and help the many needy families in the Bayville area have an enjoyable Thanksgiving season. Please make every effort to donate whatever you can,” the Berkeley Shores representatives said.
At the same time, the Bayville Volunteer Fire Department will be selling their 2024 Lottery Calendars. They will be $25 per calendar. Each calendar has a 3-digit number. Your calendar number must match the evening drawing of the NJ pick 3 exactly. This means there’s 365 chances to win.
The Berkeley PBA will also be kicking off their annual toy drive on that day and time.
The post Volunteers Come Out In Rain To Clean Park appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
