Volunteers needed to clean up Fox River on Aug. 3
Get free lunch and the chance to win $25!

The Prairie State Canoeists and Water Trail Keepers are planning a clean-up along the banks of the Fox River on Saturday, August 3, 2019. They are seeking volunteers to help clean up the riverfront in both Montgomery and Oswego by collecting trash out of the river and off the shorelines. 

The clean-up will take place along the Fox River, starting at Violet Patch Park, continuing downstream to Hudson Crossing Park, and including the confluence of Waubonsie Creek into the Fox River. Volunteers on land will clean the shoreline of public property along the river, including the bike trails and parks. Volunteers on the water will clean the waters and shoreline between these parks. 

Fox River Yoga will sponsor a lunch for volunteers and award a $25 prize for the most unusual item retrieved from the river. 

Water clean-up

The Prairie State Canoeists will lead the clean-up on the water, using their own canoes, kayaks, and tools from the Water Trail Keepers. Car shift will be at 8:30 a.m. from Montgomery  Park on the Fox River (river right), downstream from the Montgomery Dam and upstream from the Mill Street Bridge.

Land clean-up

Volunteers will meet at Violet Patch Park at 9 a.m., then divide into teams with specific assigned areas. Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves and wear mud boots. Volunteers will continue the clean-up until noon, then gather for lunch at Hudson Crossing Park. Sign up by clicking the button to email event organizers:

More information

The safety of clean-up volunteers is paramount. If the Fox River is too high (abouve 100 cu. ft. per second as measured at the Montgomery Dam) the clean-up will be postponed to a later date. 

For more information, or to sign up to volunteer on land, contact event organizers Ellen Von Ohlen at [email protected] or George Stenitzer at [email protected].

Please note: This event is not organized by the Village of Oswego. Please contact event organizers noted above for more information.