We Swept the Creek Again! It is with great pleasure that I write to say another successful Sweep the Creek occurred! About 379 working volunteers gathered at 10 sites along Sligo Creek on April 17 and 18 to pick up trash. Unfortunately, there was enough trash to fill about 303 bags — even though so many conscientious creek lovers routinely pick up trash during their walks along the creek banks.

Many families were among the volunteers, some of whom mentioned how they bought their houses in large part because the creek was nearby. Section 10 was cleaned up, in part, this Sweep by the Crossroads Youth Opportunity Center, who has helped in the past and always makes an event of it by having a group cookout afterwards. We also enjoyed having helping hands from the Montgomery County Democratic Party “Serving Our Community” Committee, several scout troops, and the University of Maryland’s “Civicus” Volunteer Corps.

It is hard to imagine how these things get in the creek, but we found: a set of rusty keys to “sheriff’s office,” ladder, saw horse, part of car bumper, 15 foot pole, scooter, hoola hoop, and bicycle, to name some of the larger items.

Many thanks also to Lynn Vismara, Volunteer Group Coordinator, and other staff from Montgomery Parks. They provided the trash bags, hung our banners in Sligo Creek Park to announce the Sweep, not to mention drove the truck around to collect the many bright orange trash bags placed along Sligo Parkway after the Sweep.

As all of the above show, the Sweep the Creek is a real group effort, supported by many people who want Sligo Creek to thrive. Thanks to all our Section Stewards and Event Tablers, who help plan and staff the Sweep at each meeting site, as well as the Outreach Committee members who advertise the event.

Patton Stephens
Sweep Sligo Creek Coordinator and Litter Committee Chair