Volunteers Join Forces to Clean Montgomery Dam and Waubonsie Lake Park

On Saturday morning, volunteers gathered to clean up around Montgomery Dam on the Fox River in Montgomery and Waubonsie Lake Park in Aurora. This event was initially delayed due to heavy rains and high water levels in late April. Originally scheduled for April 25 to celebrate Earth Day, the clean-up took place on May 16 instead.

Event Postponed for Safety

Ivan Chambers, the community outreach coordinator for the Fox Valley Park District, explained the need to move the event from April to mid-May. “Due to the elevated levels on the Fox River and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of the community and volunteers, we determined that postponing the event was the best and most responsible course of action,” Chambers stated.

This annual event has been a fixture for several years now, with efforts being made at both locations. “We’ve been working at Montgomery for at least ten years and added Waubonsie more recently,” Chambers added. “Generally, we average about 30 volunteers at each location.”

Importance of Clean-Up Efforts

The clean-up addresses the accumulation of trash and debris along the waterway shorelines. Chambers emphasized that volunteering not only improves public spaces visually but also strengthens community ties and protects the environment. It instills pride in community ownership, creating opportunities for volunteerism and service.

“The most important aspect is the immediate visual impact,” Chambers highlighted, reinforcing the tangible benefits of these events.

Community Participation

Donna Smith, a volunteer from Aurora assisting at Waubonsie Lake, described the clean-up as essential. “The clean-up is something that we had to get done, absolutely,” she remarked. “Waubonsie Lake is pretty clean, but we focus on removing candy wrappers and bottles along the shoreline.”

Another volunteer, Theresa Solan, participated to help maintain the area’s beauty. “If we all pitch in, everything will stay beautiful and we can all enjoy it,” she shared.

Angie Ng from Oswego was a newcomer to the event, participating for the first time since moving from Wisconsin. “I thought this would be nice as I enjoy the biking trails here,” Ng explained. “I like to exercise out here, and I want to keep the place I come to beautiful.” She noted a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in contributing to the community’s well-being.

David Sharos contributed to The Beacon-News as a freelance reporter.