Help CDAG clean up the riverfront trail between Pier 53 and Pier 70

The Central Delaware Advocacy Group has partnered with sustainable goods provider United By Blue to run an expansive cleanup effort of the Southern Delaware Trail from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m on Saturday, Sept. 27. The trail connects Washington Avenue Pier (Pier 53) at Washington Avenue and Columbus Boulevard and flows south down to Pier 68 & 70 in the Walmart parking lot.

The cool part? It looks like you’ll be getting an inside (albeit kind of dirty) look into the trail by wading into the water and stepping onto those amazing piers.  Think of it as a humanitarian form of UrbEx.

Here’s the plan for the cleanup:

• Goal – remove all man-made debris found between Pier 53 and Pier 70
• Process – at the riparian edge, we are extracting litter found in the plant materials; on the concrete piers we are picking up debris; at the water’s edge, we are using “grabbers” and skimmers to scoop floating debris; along the edge of the river bed, we are walking in the mud – using high boots and waders – to remove tires, shopping carts, and other larger-scale debris.
• What will be collected – everything man-made found on the piers, in the river, in the river bed, on the riparian edge.
• United By Blue will be providing two (2) 40’ long dumpsters. Getting the debris from each pier to the site where the dumpsters will be positioned – Pier 68 – will require some hauling.
• Footwear – closed-toe shoes that you don’t mind getting wet. Boots are better than low shoes.
• Gloves – gloves will be provided, but bring your preferred gloves, if you wish.
• There will be both wet and dry tasks to choose from

You can sign up here for more information.

– James Jennings is the founder of the blog Pennsporter — a site dedicated to exploring the neighborhood  from Washington to Snyder, the Delaware to Fourth.