Burlington County Freeholders seek volunteers for Nov. 14 clean up of Delran’s Amico Island Park
Freeholder director Mary Ann O’Brien announced that the Burlington County Freeholders are seeking volunteers through the Clean Communities Office to collect and record litter types along the shoreline of Amico Island Park, Norman Avenue in Delran, from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 14.
“Our tremendous County parks are among our most treasured resources here in Burlington County,” O’Brien said. “Ensuring that they remain litter free for all of our residents to enjoy is a top priority and we have been fortunate to have community support in that effort. Everyone can play a substantial role in keeping our parks clean.”
The clean-up runs from 9 a.m. until noon, with sign-in beginning at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers are encouraged to bring drinking water and wear long pants, long sleeves, long socks and sturdy close-toed shoes that can get muddy. Bags, gloves, and litter grabbers will be provided. Participants younger than age 16 must be accompanied by an adult, and letters documenting volunteer community service will be available. (Only severe weather will cancel the event.)
Volunteers may just show up, or pre-register: contact the Clean Communities office at cleancomm@co.burlington.nj.us, or (609) 499–1001, ext. 266 and provide name, town, email, and phone number. Additional park information can be found on the county website.
The litter inventory is part of the 29th annual International Coastal Cleanup conducted by the Ocean Conservancy. Information collected at this event will become part of a world-wide data base. In 2014, more than 560,000 volunteers, from 91 countries, removed over 16 billion pounds of trash from along 13,000 miles of shoreline. The top five items collected: Cigarette filters, food wrappers, plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps, and straws and stirrers.
Throughout the year, groups are encouraged to schedule a clean-up of the shoreline at Amico Island Park, any day during low tide, to clear the litter brought in daily by the tides. Email parks@co.burlington.nj.us, or call the parks office at (609) 265–5858 to set up a time for County park rangers to meet your party and provide safety information, gloves, bags and removal of collected debris.
