DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Volunteers are working hard to keep Belle Isle Park a sparkling Detroit gem and not a garbage dump.
More than 1,200 pounds of disposable plastic and other litter has been removed from canals, lakes and lagoons on Belle Isle in Detroit.
The Belle Isle Conservancy says 1,400 volunteers took part in an annual spring cleanup last Saturday at the nearly 1,000-acre island park in the Detroit River. The event supports the Keep Belle Isle Beautiful anti-litter campaign.
"It's an amazing experience to see everyone come together and create this huge impact- and then celebrate afterwards," Genevieve Nowak, Director of Volunteer Services for Belle Isle Park, said in a statement. "The energy on the island during Spring Clean-Up is unlike any event I've experienced. I look forward to it all year long."
The annual spring cleanup began in the 1970’s with a small group of volunteers and has grown into a major event today. Because many people use the park for recreation and picnicking opportunities, visitors are urged to be aware and accountable for the individual difference they can make to the environment by ensuring their trash is properly disposed.
Belle Isle became Michigan's 102nd state park in 2014. Michigan's Department of Natural Resources manages the park.
The Belle Isle Conservancy is responsible for generating funds for improvement projects and cultural programs throughout the island.