Community members are shown cleaning up at the Erie Canal location in Canastota during a previous Canal Clean Sweep event.
(Jan. 2015) The 10th Annual Canal Clean Sweep is coming Friday through Sunday, April 17 to 19, and help is needed. The NYS Canal Corporation, in partnership with Parks & Trails New York, is hosting Canal Clean Sweep in recognition of Earth Day 2015 and in advance of the 191st consecutive navigation season on the New York State Canal System.
Last year, more than 150 communities, not-for-profit organizations, civic groups, businesses, and social clubs took part in 105 cleanup and beautification events along the Canal System and the Canalway Trail.
Assistance is sought again in making the 10th Annual Canal Clean Sweep an even bigger success by asking community members to organize a cleanup activity. Whether it’s picking up litter and brush on lock grounds, helping to remove debris from a local Canal park, or preparing a section of Canalway Trail for the thousands of visitors that arrive each year, your event will give volunteers an opportunity to work hand-in-hand with their neighbors and Canal Corporation employees to enhance and preserve this tremendous environmental, cultural and historic resource.
To recognize your group’s participation, the Canal Corporation will promote your event with statewide press releases and will provide you with a template to tailor to local media. Parks & Trails New York will provide up-to-date event information and maintain a comprehensive listing of events taking place throughout the weekend on its website, www.ptny.org/canalway/sweep.
Organizing groups will also receive free Canal Clean Sweep T-shirts and the Canal Corporation will provide trash bags and arrange for the disposal of collected and bagged trash. Each group will be expected to provide their own tools (if needed) and work gloves.
To register a Canal Clean Sweep event, please fill out the online registration form at http://www.ptny.org/canalway/sweep no later than March 16.
For more information on coordinating an event in your community, please contact James at canalsweep@ptny.org or (518) 434-1583.