Nature lovers and other volunteers are asked to sign up to help remove trash and debris.
As the air starts to warm, Evesham residents once again find themselves at the time of year when bright colors begin to return to the outside world.
With spring starting to get into full swing, it also signals the time of year when Evesham residents can once again join the annual cleanup event at the Black Run Preserve on April 29.
Often described as the gateway to the Pinelands, Evesham’s Black Run Preserve encompasses nearly 1,300 acres of preserved land in the southern half of the township where flora and fauna native to the Pine Barrens thrive in the area’s naturally low nutrient levels and low levels of pH.
As spring gets underway each year, Evesham’s Clean Communities program puts out a call for nature lovers to help spruce up the Black Run Preserve before more visitors head there in the late spring and summer.
This year is no different, according to Evesham Clean Communities Coordinator Debbie Pease, who is once again coordinating the cleanup event.
“It’s like the ‘Broken Window Effect,’ where we have to clean up small areas when we can so people don’t see them and think any kind of dumping is OK,” Pease said.
Due to illegal dumping that has taken place at the Black Run Preserve over the years, volunteers are needed to help remove items such as debris from construction projects, old tires, cigarette butts, plastic wrappers and other pieces of trash.
With the help of New Jersey Clean Communities, which provides mini-grants to communities to help with cleanup work, Pease said volunteers would be provided with all the gloves, trash bags and supplies they need to help clean the Black Run.
“The area is really pristine … and illegal dumping really takes away from that beauty,” Pease said.
This year’s Black Run Preserve Clean Communities event is scheduled for April 29 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
For more information about the event or to sign up, call or email Pease at (856) 983–2798 or [email protected].
Residents are asked to sign up in advance so officials can bring the appropriate amount of cleanup supplies.
Officials ask those who attend to meet at the Black Run Preserve’s south parking area, located on the dirt portion of Bortons Road. Officials recommend coming in to the area off Hopewell Road, then taking the paved portion of Bortons Road to the unpaved area.
Once at the event, officials with the township will give participants their assignment areas and distribute equipment.
Free pizza and drinks will be provided at the end of the cleanup event at noon.
Residents interested in learning more about The Black Run Preserve can also visit www.blackrun.org.
