Volunteers Needed for Cleanup Event

The community is invited to participate in the fifth annual cleanup of Route 345, a roadway in Elverson that travels through French Creek State Park and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. The event, organized by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), will take place on Saturday, March 14, beginning at 9 a.m.

Attendees will meet in the Shed Road parking lot, located at the intersection of Route 345 and 1028 Shed Road, Douglassville. Volunteers will then be divided into small groups, which will spread out along Route 345 to clean up as much of the roadway as possible.

"We do this cleanup every year usually the first or second week of March," noted Jared Brandt, DCNR park ranger and environmental education specialist who works at Marsh Creek State Park in Downingtown and French Creek State Park in Elverson. "I usually have a variety of different sections on 345 that we clean. I split the group into smaller groups, and each subgroup is responsible for a section. A lot of the cleanup happens off of 345 because of the number of volunteers that show up."

Youngsters may participate, but they must be accompanied by an adult. The cleanup is also open to church youth groups and Scout troops with adult supervision. Adults must sign the DCNR waiver that is available at registration.

"It is a good activity for families. If there are small kids, we put them at a spot that has less traffic," noted Brandt. "(Route) 345 is very busy. We have a ton of rangers and staff members making sure cars are going slow."

PennDOT will provide gloves, safety vests and trash bags, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own gear. "We get a bunch of unusual stuff like tires and mattresses, but it's mostly trash," noted Brandt. "Usually the people that come out return every year. They are local, but anyone is welcome."

"It's a great way to keep the park beautiful and give back to your local community," he added.

For complete details and to register, visit https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/annual-345-cleanup. The registration deadline is Friday, March 13. A link to register is also available at http://www.facebook.com/frenchcreekSP. Those with questions may email jabrandt@pa.gov.