10th Annual South Platte Clean-up - This Saturday!

Posted: 04/21/2015
By: Nathan Fey

We are excited to announce that AW and Colorado Whitewater are hosting the 10th annual South Platte River Cleanup on Saturday, April 25th in celebration of Earth Day in Denver, Colorado. This is an all-volunteer event to pick up trash along Denver's South Platte River.

In past years, we have seen over 200 rafters, kayakers, and other participants successfully remove over 2 TONS of garbage from the river corridor. The event has garnered local and regional attention as the best river stewardship event in the Metro area. We anticipate an even larger turnout as we have partnered with Confluence Kayaks, and Down River Equipment to present this year’s event. Participating in the Clean-up is a great way to give back to your community and take care of the river that winds its way through the heart of Denver.

We will need 4 volunteers to help at the put-ins, 4 at each take-out and also 2 kayakers to run sweep (carry first aid, pin kits, and cell phones, etc), 10 volunteers total. To volunteer or for more information, contact Nathan Fey or sign up at the event.

When: 4/25/2015
Registration starts at 9 am
On the water: 11 am – 3 pm
After Party: 4pm - 7 pm at Denver Beer Co.

Event Details: This year, we will be splitting the clean-up into two sections to cover over 10 miles of the South Platte River as it flows through the City. Participants will have the option of choosing which section they would like to cover.

Section 1: Starting from Centennial Park (on Union Avenue, just East of I-25) paddlers will float to Grant Frontier Park, where restrooms, a dumpster, and shuttle drivers will be staged.
Registration/Put-In: Section 1 will start at Centennial Park, near the Union Ave ballfields.
Take-out: Grant Frontier Park is located just south of Evans on South Platte River Drive East at 2190 S Platte River Dr, Denver, CO, 80223

 

Section 2: Due to ongoing construction at Johnson Habitat Park, the put-in and registration for Section 2 of the South Platte River Clean-up has been moved to the intersection of South Platte River Dr. and Alameda.  Boats will have to be carried across the road and bike path to get to the river at this alternative location. We advise participants bring smaller rafts (no oar rigs) or canoes and kayaks for this section.
Registration and parking will be located at Western Pacific Building Materials on the SW corner of South Platte River Drive and Alameda Ave. There is no riverside parking at this location.
Take-out: We set up two options here: 1) Fishback Park, 818 Water St, Denver, CO 80211 or 2) Cuernavacca Park, Rockmont DrDenver, Colorado 80202. There is no available parking at Fishback Park, but there is overflow parking in the area between the Aquarium and REI. City of Cuernavaca Park Downtown, where there is ample parking (even for trailers), is an alternate take-out that allows for a run through Confluence Park.

Event Locations: CLICK HERE for a map to the Registration/Put-In and Take-out locations, as well as the location of the After Party. 

After Party:  This year, we have a private room reserved for SPRC participants at the Denver Beer Co. from 4-7pm.  Local food trucks will be on site, while we swap stories from the day over a variety of beers, and refuel after a great day giving back to the river.

Shuttle Information:  Shuttles will be available on the day of the event, to facilitate participant transport from each put-in and take-out.

Event Information Contacts:
General: Nathan Fey, 303-859-8601
Rafters: Down River Equipment, 303-467-9489
Kayakers: Confluence Kayaks, 303-433-3676

Last year, we saw over 200 rafters, kayakers, cyclists and pedestrians that successfully removed over 2 TONS of garbage from the river and bike path.  The event garnered local and regional media coverage. Please join us this year, and help us clean-up the South Platte River!

Colorado Stewardship Director

Nathan Fey

1601 Longs Peak Ave.

Longmont, CO 80501

Phone: 303-859-8601
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