This month I am hoping a large number of you can come out and help with the clean up. This has been a difficult year for the Parkway and our Mile 6/7 North. With the availability of the vaccines and our general re-emergence from “sheltering in”, large numbers of folks are using the Parkway for their “nature fix” walking, running, riding bicycles, recreating and enjoying life which is great.

At the same time, although littering remains a problem which we have done great work to take care of on the UU mile, we are experiencing a growing number of encampments and people who because of unemployment, poverty, personal issues, etc. are challenging the ability of government and volunteers to maintain successfully the beauty of the Parkway. Those people need assistance as does the Parkway. You might be surprised to know that in the last year or so, close to 15 % of the designated property of the Parkway has been burned, including sections of the UU mile. Please consider coming out and helping to add your efforts to helping keeping our assigned mile as clean as we can.

We meet on the second Saturday of every month between 8:45-9:00AM in the parking lot, next to the levee, at the end of Northrop Avenue, off Howe Avenue, behind Panera. We sign in; trash bags are issued and new folks are oriented. We then spend one hour removing trash from the UU Mile. We meet back next to the levee stairway at 10:00 AM for a photograph of our crew and the results of our efforts. Afterward, many of us continue the fun at Panera with refreshments and conversation. Remember to wear good shoes, bring gloves and water to hydrate, a mask if you so choose, perhaps a “grabber”, and your volunteer spirit…. this Saturday looks to be partially cloudy in the high 60’s.

If you are still reading this post at this point, thanks (lol).

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Eric Ross

Mile Steward

UUSS American River Parkway Stewards