LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Friends of the LA River (FOLAR) is proud to announce the 28th Annual Great Los Angeles River CleanUp: La Gran Limpieza (CleanUp). FOLAR’s annual CleanUp has exploded in recent years, shattering records for volunteer turnout and trash collected, and is the largest urban river cleanup in America.
The 2016 CleanUp attracted 9,000 volunteers who removed over 70 tons of trash from the LA River at more than a dozen sites. The 2017 CleanUp will be held at 14 sites along the entire length of the LA River on the last three Saturdays of Earth Month (April 15th, 22nd, and 29th) 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Registration is open to all volunteers at www.folar.org/cleanup.
“The Great LA River CleanUp is the defining event on the LA River. It’s become the largest urban river cleanup in America; last year had 9,000 volunteers picking up 70 tons of trash.” said Marissa Christiansen, FOLAR’s Executive Director. “When Angelenos get involved their River, they often start at our CleanUp.”
“Each area of the Los Angeles River is unique and requires special attention and appreciation,” said Lewis MacAdams, FOLAR’s Founder. The CleanUp focuses primarily on the soft-bottomed and green sections of the LA River which are, in themselves, incredibly diverse. The sites range from the bucolic Sepulveda Basin in the San Fernando Valley to the Golden Shore Marine Reserve in Long Beach, where dolphins and seals are a common sight.
The CleanUp takes place at 14 hand-picked sites on the last three Saturdays of April (4/15, 4/22, & 4/29) 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the following sites:
April 15 – Upper River: Bette Davis Picnic Area, Sepulveda Basin at Balboa Blvd, and Tujunga Wash at Haines Canyon Channel.
April 22 – Mid River: Arroyo Seco Confluence, Bowtie Parcel at Fletcher Drive, The Frog Spot, Los Feliz Blvd, Marsh Street Nature Park, Steelhead Park, and Sunnynook Footbridge.
April 29 – Lower River: Compton Creek at Artesia Metro Station, Compton Creek at Del Amo Metro Station, Golden Shore Marine Reserve, and Willow Street Estuary.
In addition to the trash pick-up volunteers will be entertained by popular local bands and groups that come to the CleanUp to connect with the LA River community. Select sites will also feature FOLAR’s 30’ mobile visitor and education center – the LA River Rover. The CleanUp continues to be a popular event for Angelenos of all ages and backgrounds, attracting families, students, churches, co-workers and hipsters to the River with FOLAR every April.
Volunteers will receive a FOLAR reusable tote bag and a custom-designed t-shirt by Christian Kasperkovitz, a Los Angeles artist whose artwork tells stories about our relationships and interactions with wildlife and a gift card from Rubio’s Coastal Grill. Refreshments, snacks, and sunblock will all be on hand to keep volunteers healthy and hydrated.
The 2017 CleanUp is made possible through sponsorships from REI Co-op, Toyota Financial Services, and others. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2017 CleanUp, information about sponsorships is available at www.folar.org/cleanup/sponsor.
Angelenos can register to volunteer at the CleanUp and get more information at www.folar.org/cleanup. Group registration is also available for groups of 10 or more volunteers and is available www.folar.org/cleanup/groups.
“When you see so many people on the River working together in their FOLAR shirts it warms your heart.” said Christansen “I am so inspired when I think about countless members of the River community pouring their love into our River over the last 28 years.”
Friends of the Los Angeles River (FOLAR):
Founded in 1986, FOLAR is an independent 501c(3) nonprofit whose mission is to ensure a publicly accessible and ecologically vibrant Los Angeles River by inspiring River stewardship through community engagement, education, advocacy, and thought leadership.
Learn more at www.folar.org
