Annual Woonasquatucket cleanup schedule April 20

Johnston resident Joe Jamroz says he volunteers for people and nature. Almost eight years ago, Jamroz got involved with the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) as a volunteer guide for their Paddle Program. Over the years, he became more and more involved, helping promote events, cleaning the river and bike path and testing the river water as part of the WRWC’s Water Monitoring Program.

“I guess I keep coming back to the Watershed Council because I get to be out in nature while meeting wonderful people in the community and helping to make my neighborhood a better place,” Jamroz said.

Jamroz will be out with his two teams, the Johnston Historical Society and St. Thomas Church, on Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m. to volunteer at Johnston’s biggest spring cleanup event – Clean Day on the Greenway.

Clean Day is an annual cleanup of the Woona-squatucket River Greenway, which is 5.7 miles and runs from Providence to Johnston. This year, the WRWC will focus their efforts in Johnston, with the help of hundreds of Johnston residents, businesses, organizations and groups who will come out to clean the Johnston portion of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway Bike Path.

Projects for this family-friendly Earth Day event will include painting and hanging educational signs, gathering trash and debris from the river, mulching plant beds and more. The WRWC will provide T-shirts, snacks, water, tools, gloves and a barbeque lunch and raffle prizes.

“Our annual Clean Day on the Greenway is in its 12th year, with more Johnston businesses, residents and teams registering every day. We are grateful for the support we’ve received from the town of Johnston and local Johnston businesses, and we look forward to working together to get the bike path ready for the upcoming months,” said WRWC’s Executive Director Alicia Lehrer.

The Watershed Council offers year-round opportunities to get involved with education, recreation and maintenance. Just head down to the bike path crossing near Scramblers Restaurant on Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is required. Volunteers can register and get more information for Clean Day online at wrwc.org. Contact Amanda Blevins at 861-9046 if you have questions.