With the help of over 200 volunteers, the Neabsco Creek Watershed in Woodbridge has dramatically reduced the amount of litter it once held.
According to a press release from Prince William County, a cleanup was organized on March 5 to help gather a large portion of the trash at Eagle’s Park and the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk.
With the assistance of many volunteers, over 150 large bags of plastic and trash, 40 tires, two fire extinguishers, and a couple of barrels were collected. According to the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District Water Quality Programs Manager Veronica Tangiri, the volunteers were a great help in cleaning the boardwalk.
“The turnout is great,” Bill McCarty, president of the Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition, said in a release. “The community is really supporting this Neabsco Boardwalk area and it’s wonderful to see.”
Many of the volunteers who helped regularly visit the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk and were inspired to make their area look nicer.
Some, such as Paul and Lisa Jacobsmeyer, came to help their local community.
“We walk here all the time, and we see all the stuff and think, ‘Someone ought to do something about it.’ When we heard that they were doing something about it, we decided to come out and help,” Jacobsmeyer said.
Others, like 18-year-old Tacari Edwards – who came with his mother Carnetta Edwards and friend Jose Acosta – volunteered to stay active.
Organizations also showed up to help out with the event, giving their time and effort.
These groups include Hylton High School Air Force Junior ROTC, Northern Virginia Geocaching Organization, Freedom High School Air Force Junior ROTC, Amicettes and Archonettes, Girl Scout Troop 4578, Pearlettes, Omicron Theta Zeta Chapter, Prince William NAACP, and ZETA Phi Beta Sorority.
“We appreciate the participation of the groups and all of the individuals and families who helped to remove trash from this scenic natural resource and recreation area,” Tangiri said.
This article is written by Contributing Writer Nicholas Nohe.
