For the past three years, April to October, several members of the Niles Park Board have directed a monthly volunteer effort to pick up trash in various city parks. It has been both rewarding and frustrating: rewarding because it leaves the parks temporarily clean and appealing; frustrating because some people continue to litter, leaving empty water bottles, fast food containers, candy wrappers, cigarette butts and countless other things for someone else to dispose of.

A main concern for us has been the plastic and other non-biodegradable material, which eventually ends up in the St. Joseph River. It may all move downstream, but it will never decompose.

We have more than 20 city parks. If each citizen would take pride of ownership of these natural areas, properly disposing of litter and reminding others to do the same, we de-trashers wouldn’t be needed.

Special thanks to those individuals who have so faithfully helped.

It is time for us to hand over this project to another local group sharing our interest in and concern for the environment and beauty of our area.

Our term of dedication ends with our final date for this year: Saturday, Oct. 20. We will meet at 9 a.m. at the amphitheater in Riverfront Park. If you can join us, please do. If you would like to continue this effort, call Juan Ganum at Niles City Hall.

City of Niles Park and Recreation Board

Cindy Cataldo, Chairwoman

Juan Ganum, Community Development Director,

683-4700 ext. 233

Submitted by Janey Waterhouse,

Park Board member

Niles