ON A MISSION — Volunteers in kayaks, armed with buckets, head out from Hontoon Island State Park on the St. Johns River during the 2018 St. Johns River Cleanup.
BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Volunteers are needed for the 26th annual St. Johns River Cleanup, which will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 23.
Planners hope to clean 59 miles of the waterway and river basin with the help of boaters and other volunteers. Scouts, schools and other social groups are encouraged to participate. All ages are welcome to join.
Participants should bring water and wear sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, work gloves and comfortable clothing. They may also bring rakes, shovels, trash grabbers, and canoes or boats.
Volunteers can choose from nine sites:
- Nine Mile Point Park, at the west end of Nine Mile Point Road, Pierson
- Shell Harbor, 1800 Shell Harbor Road, Pierson
- DeLeon Springs State Park, 601 Burts Park Road, DeLeon Springs
- Ed Stone Park, 2990 W. State Road 44, DeLand
- Lake Beresford Park, 2100 Fatio Road, DeLand
- French Avenue boat launch / Starks Landing, Orange City
- Lake Monroe Park, 975 S. U.S. 17-92, DeBary
- Lemon Bluff boat ramp, 907 Lemon Bluff Road, Osteen
- C.S. Lee Park, 4600 E. State Road 46, Geneva (Seminole County)
The annual cleanup, coordinated by Volusia County’s Environmental Management Division, draws attention to the river’s environmental importance and helps to keep the waterway safe and clean for animals and people who enjoy swimming and water sports.
For more information to register online, visit www.volusia.org/cleanup or contact Joan Coil at jcoil@volusia.org or 386-736-5927, ext. 12729. Registration ends April 19. Pre-registered participants will receive a beach towel.
— Volusia County Community Information Specialist Pat Kuehn
