‘Sweeping Our Rivers Clean’: DuPage River Sweep Promotes Environmental Stewardship

From Addison to Shorewood, hundreds of volunteers are about to descend on the DuPage River in an effort to improve water quality and make a positive impact on the environment and community.

Hosted by the Conservation Foundation, the 33rd DuPage River Sweep is set to take place Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m.-noon along the river. Participating communities include Addison, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Itasca, Lisle, Lombard, Naperville, Oak Brook, Oak Brook Terrace, Plainfield, Roselle, Shorewood, Warrenville, Westmont, Wheaton and Wood Dale.

The DuPage River Sweep began in 1991 as the DuPage River Coalition — an all-volunteer group dedicated to “sweeping our rivers clean” said Amy Phillips, DuPage County Program Director for the Conservation Foundation.

“The first five to eight years, they picked up very large materials that had been dumped in the river over decades — a refrigerator, stolen change machine, portable toilets, cars, car parts, a lot of tires, lawn furniture, construction debris, etc.,” Phillips said. “Fortunately, this kind of dumping is now rare, and while we still collect tires, most of the material collected is much smaller — cans, bottles, wrappers, masks, cigarettes, etc.

Last year’s River Sweep drew almost 800 volunteers across DuPage County and northwest Will County, with 450 bags of trash collected — an estimated nearly 7 tons of trash, Phillips said. Volunteers are given work gloves, trash bags, grabbers and vests. Participants should come dressed to get muddy. Some volunteers choose to wear tall boots and wade through shallow water, while others stick to the trails.

“There is room for everyone regardless of age or ability,” Phillips said. “The River Sweep, along with many other programs we facilitate, is an opportunity to give back to our communities and help keep these important natural areas clean for the benefit of wildlife and people.”

Gerald Subaru of Naperville has been an annual sponsor of the DuPage River Sweep, and the Conservation Foundation looks forward to partnering with Gerald again this year.

“Their financial support helps the 700-plus volunteers have the materials they need to sweep that river clean,” said Abby Beck, Vice President of Advancement for the Conservation Foundation. “They are helping people become stewards of the environment right where we live, which pays dividends all year long.”

Gerald Subaru of Naperville is proud to be part of this important event each year.

“It’s a privilege to help support an organization making such a difference in the community through the DuPage River Sweep,” said Donna Lawler of the Gerald Auto Group. “It is inspiring to see hundreds of volunteers come together for the common goal of keeping our waterways clean and helping to preserve nature.”

For more information on the DuPage River Sweep, visit https://theconservationfoundation.org/rivers-streams-old/river-sweep. For information on Gerald Subaru of Naperville, visit https://www.geraldsubarunaperville.com.