Contact: Jim Meyer, Executive Director (310) 344-9229 JMeyerT4A@Aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Trails4All to Host 14th Annual Inner-Coastal & Watershed Cleanup Day on September 25 Last year’s event kept 21 dumpsters of debris from reaching the ocean. Paramount, Calif. (September 1, 2010) Local nonprofit Trails4All will be hosting the region’s largest annual cleanup event to remove trash and illegally-dumped items from local watersheds on September 25. The event, Inner-Coastal and Watershed Cleanup Day, will take place at 33 locations within Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Last year, the cleanup cleared enough debris to fill 21 dumpsters and drew 3,400 volunteers. The 14th annual regional event is part of the greater statewide 26th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, and aims to beautify the local environment while removing trash before it makes it to the beach or ocean. “When you throw a cigarette butt out your window or leave an empty drink cup on the sidewalk it is the same as leaving that cigarette or cup on the beach,” says Jim Meyer, executive director of Trails4All. “Trash makes it into our storm drains, which flow directly to the ocean, polluting streams and beaches along the way.” The California Coastal Commission estimates there are more than 330,000 pieces of plastic trash per square mile in the Pacific Ocean, most from land sources. The debris impacts at least 267 marine species. In fact, trash discarded miles away from the beach still manages to make it to the ocean through rivers and storm drains that start as far east as the Inland Empire. How to Participate Cleanups at each location will begin at 8:30 a.m. and last through 12:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted. The event is free and appropriate for all ages, and participants are invited to stay as long as they wish. Most locations will feature a post-event environmental expo and lunch. The family-friendly event is looking to reduce its own environmental impact this year through its “Bring Your Own” program. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles, bags or buckets, and gloves to reduce the waste caused by the cleanup.
Trash bags and dumpsters will be provided by Trails4All and its event sponsors. Closed-toed shoes, sunscreen and a hat are recommended. Contact Jim Meyer at (310) 344-9229 for more information or visit www.Trails4All.org. About Trails4All Trails4All was founded in 1992 and is coalition of more than 30 trail-users groups. Its mission is to improve access to local trails, build new trails, and promote outdoor education among young people through its afterschool program, Partnerships4Trails. Who: What: When: Where:
Trails4All 14th Annual Inner-Coastal & Watershed Cleanup Day Saturday September 25, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Locations below
Orange County: Anaheim/Yorba Linda: Yorba Regional Park 7600 LaPalma Ave. Brea: Brea Creek Channel Berry & Mercury Buena Park: Buena Park Elks Lodge 7212 Melrose St Costa Mesa: Vista Park/Talbert Preserve 1200 Victoria Street
Huntington Beach: Huntington City Beach* North Side of Pier 103 PCH Huntington Beach Wetlands Brookhurst & PCH (inland side of PCH) Irvine: San Diego Creek/San Joaquin Marsh 3512 Michelson Dr. Laguna Woods: Aliso Creek at Avenida Sevilla Enter through Mission Viejo
Talbert Regional Park at Victoria Pond 19th & Balboa Street Dana Point*: Salt Creek County Beach 33333 S. PCH Doheny State Beach & San Juan Creek Lifeguard headquarters 25300 Dana Point Harbor Dr. Dana Point Harbor/Ocean Institute 24200 Dana Point Harbor
La Habra: Coyote Creek Channel Fashion Square Lane Beach Blvd. & Imperial Hwy. Lake Forest: Aliso Creek Trail between Rockfield Blvd. and I-5 25101 Charlinda Dr.
La Palma: Fullerton Creek Channel Sites Register at: Buena Park Elks Lodge 7212 Melrose St Mission Viejo: Oso Creek Trailhead Marguerite & Estanciero Newport Beach*: Upper Newport Bay, Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center 2301 University Dr.
Santa Ana: Santiago Park 900 E Memory Lane Centennial Park 3000 W. Edinger Spurgeon Park 2701 W. 5th Street Seal Beach: 1st & Ocean 1st & Highway 1
San Clemente*: San Clemente Pier Avenida Victoria & Avenida Del Mar San Juan Capistrano*: Descanso Park 32400 Paseo Adelanto
Trabuco Canyon: Trabuco Canyon & Live Oak Canyon Road Westminster: Civic Center 8200 Westminster Boulevard
Inland Empire Locations: Corona: Temescal Wash October 16 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Hemet: Diamond Valley Middle School October 23 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Lake Parris: Lake Perris S.R.A Lot 14 / Power Cove October 23 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Redlands: Santa Ana River Church Street at Riverview Dr. October 9 10:00 a.m. City of Riverside: Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District 1995 Market St. and the 60 FWY October 2
* Information for these events can be found on Trails4All’s website; however, these are regional events as a part of the greater California Coastal Cleanup Day and are not sponsored by Trails4All.