Milwaukee River Clean-up

It seems my weekends have been filling up quickly now that summer's around the corner. I'm excited about being able to see everyone again, and get outside with the nicer weather.

This last Saturday, Gregor decided to sign us up to volunteer at the Milwaukee Riverkeeper river clean-up in MKE's Lincoln Park. Although the wind was a little chilly, the sun was shining as we pulled into the parking lot around 9 AM. About two dozen people, ages six to 60, gathered around a sign-up table. We all picked up gloves, t-shirts (which look pretty awesome -- and who doesn't need more free shirts?), E-Z grabbers, and trash bags before heading out to scour the park for trash.

We wandered around the Milwaukee River banks and surrounding park for about 2-1/2 hours picking up used plastic bags, cigarette and cigar butts, plastic bottles, beer cans, and food wrappers.

Some people also found a laptop, steering wheel, a light-up Christmas snowman, a safe, and cash register drawer. (Local robberies, much?)

When we left around 11:30, there were about 25-30 bags stacked up along the road for garbage pick-up.

It felt good to help out the community; plus the park didn't look to shabby once we finished up. It's a never-ending battle -- but it was a good way to get outside, and make the city look a little better.

I also mentioned Gregor how he had posted a blog about the "Broken-window theory." But maybe if people see us doing our part to keep the parks clean, they might think twice about tossing that Oreo wrapper on the ground.