Community Volunteers Clean Up Local Parks

Volunteers gathered on Saturday morning to clean up areas around Montgomery Dam on the Fox River in Montgomery and Waubonsie Lake Park in Aurora. Originally planned for April 25 in celebration of Earth Day, the event was postponed to May 16 due to heavy rains and high water levels on the Fox River.

Ivan Chambers, the community outreach coordinator for the Fox Valley Park District, highlighted the necessity of rescheduling. “Due to elevated levels on the Fox River, and prioritizing the safety of the community and volunteers, postponing the event was the most responsible decision,” he explained.

The annual cleanup has been a fixture for several years, with recent events held simultaneously at both Montgomery Dam and Waubonsie Lake Park. Chambers noted, “We’ve worked at Montgomery for at least 10 years and more recently added Waubonsie.” Each location attracts an average of 30 volunteers.

“The waterways often collect trash and debris,” Chambers stated. “Volunteering creates visual improvements in public spaces while strengthening community connections.”

Volunteers such as Donna Smith of Aurora emphasized the importance of the cleanup. “Waubonsie Lake is relatively clean, but we focus on finding candy wrappers and bottles along the shoreline,” she said.

Theresa Solan, another volunteer, remarked on the collaborative effort, saying, “If we all pitch in, everything will remain beautiful for everyone to enjoy.”

Angie Ng, who recently moved to the area from Wisconsin, participated for the first time. “I enjoy the biking trails here,” she said. “By joining the cleanup, I help keep the park beautiful, and it gives me a sense of satisfaction.”