CLAYTON – The Friends of Johnston County Parks is hosting their fourth annual countywide clean up in honor of Earth Day. The event is a coordinated, county-wide litter clean up scheduled for Saturday, April 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The group is working with local parks and recreation departments as well as county partners, in addition to NCDOT as part of the North Carolina Litter Sweep program. Volunteers can choose to assist at clean up sites all across Johnston County including the towns of Clayton, Princeton, Selma, Smithfield, Kenly, and Archer Lodge, as well as clean ups at Flower Hill Preserve, Bentonville Battlefield, Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center, and via the Cleveland School Community. In addition, the Town of Benson will be hosting a clean up event on Friday the 19th in partnership with the Friends group.
Registration is required to participate in the event; the volunteer registration form can be accessed and filled-out here. You can select a preferred geographic area of JoCo you’d like to work in as a volunteer on the form. Bags, gloves, and safety vests may be provided at each location as available, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own if they have them. The event is rain or shine.
“We’re excited to be hosting our fourth Earth Day County-wide Cleanup, which presents a great opportunity to get outside and make a positive difference. Last year more than 270 volunteers across the county cleaned up 7,100 pounds of litter, and we look forward to again working with volunteers and community partners across our beautiful county,” said Jessica Meadows Rich, the event organizer and Vice President of Friends of Johnston County Parks, “Our parks, greenways, and open spaces are important assets and resources for the residents of Johnston County. Earth Day is the perfect time to give back and do our part to help keep them clean and free from litter for everyone’s enjoyment.”
The Friends of Johnston County Parks is a 501(c)3 organization with a volunteer board advocating in support of parks, open space, the arts, and recreational opportunities on behalf of all Johnston County citizens and visitors. The group’s four strategic priorities are advocacy, education, recreation, and stewardship.
Is the greenway in Smithfield back open? At one time is was gated half way due to the new water plant.
How about instead of volunteers, how about all these people on probation that has community service hours do this project.