Annual Kewash Kleanup set for April 10

In preparation for the April 17 Kewash half marathon, 10K and 5K event, the Washington YMCA is planning its annual Kewash Kleanup on April 10.

The YMCA is seeking volunteers to walk portions of the trail and pick up trash on the morning of April 10.

'We have people come from all over for the Kewash half marathon, 10K, 5K event,” YMCA Branch Director Teri Hartzler said. 'We like to get it cleaned up before that. We like to make a good presentation.”

Volunteers are asked to meet in the parking area at the trail entrance north of Sunset Park at 9 a.m. on the day of the cleanup.

'We'll hand out trash bags and plastic gloves,” Hartzler said.

Some volunteers will go out to where the trail meets Juniper Avenue, while others will go to where the trail meets Kiwi Avenue.

Those groups will work their way back toward Washington, while the remainder will start in Washington and work out toward those areas.

'Most of the trash we pick up is closer to downtown,” Hartzler said.

She said that, generally, most of the trash that needs to be picked up are plastic cups and small bags.

'The first year we did it, there were carpet pieces and tires,” she said.

Hartzler said that they usually have 25-30 volunteers take part in the trail cleanup.

'The more people we have, the faster it goes,” she said. 'Many hands make quick work.”

For more information on the cleanup event, contact Hartzler at 319-653-2141 or thartzler@washingtony.org.