St. Charles gearing up for Fox River cleanup day

Volunteers are needed to help clean up litter and trash along the Fox River in St. Charles next month.

The River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles, The Conservation Foundation and the St. Charles Park District are teaming up to conduct a volunteer river cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 18. The effort is part of "It's Our Fox River Day" river cleanups and community celebrations in towns along the Fox River being coordinated by Friends of the Fox River.

"The River Corridor Foundation and The Conservation Foundation are dedicated to protecting the Fox River because a healthy community starts with a healthy river," River Corridor Foundation volunteer John Rabchuk said in a news release from the River Corridor Foundation. "Clean and healthy rivers have the potential to provide everything from clean drinking water to recreation opportunities to fish and wildlife habitat."

This is the third year the River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles has participated in the event. Last year's event proved to be a success.

More than 125 volunteers supported this effort in 2020, resulting in the largest St. Charles Fox River trash collection to date, according to the release. Trash bags and collection tools will be provided. Volunteers are asked to provide their own gloves.

The event will adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines at the time with regard to masks and social distancing.

Learn more about how to participate in the St. Charles Fox River Clean Up and to register to volunteer at stcrivercorridor.org/river_cleanup.php. Canoes and kayaks are welcome. Registration in advance is encouraged.

Registration on the day of the event is available between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Sept. 18 at Ferson Creek Park along Route 31, east of Wildrose Springs Drive.