Fast Facts:
Creek Cleanup Day: Saturday, October 7, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Pelham City Park (Meet at the pavilion)
Bring: Closed-toed shoes (to wade in the creek), reusable water bottle, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and friends.
Who: Volunteers of all ages are needed.
REGISTER HERE or scan the QR Code below:
Hosted by: Cahaba River Society, Pelham Garden Club, and Pelham Parks & Recreation
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Bishop Creek is a beautiful natural attraction at Pelham City Park. But when the creek becomes littered with trash and other artificial items, it not only takes away from the beauty but also causes problems for other major waterways.
Recently, some patrons of the Pelham Dog Park approached Brian Cooper, Director of Pelham Parks & Recreation, to plant the idea for a creek cleanup. Cooper met with Teresa Riddle with the Pelham Garden Club and Wil Ranier, Field Programs Director for the Cahaba River Society, to brainstorm an event that would unite volunteers for the cause.
Ranier explained the importance of local tributaries like Bishop Creek to the health of our waterways. “The Cahaba River is only as clean as its tributaries. Bishop Creek flows into Buck Creek, which drains into the Cahaba. Trash from Bishop Creek will one day end up in the Cahaba River. It’s just as important to ensure a clean and native ecosystem in our creeks and streams as it is to ensure cleanliness in our rivers’ main channels. A clean Cahaba River Watershed means a clean Cahaba River.”
Teresa Riddle is very active in the beautification of our community. As a member of the Pelham Garden Club, she’s always on the lookout for ways to enhance the quality of life in Pelham. When discussing the need for the creek cleanup, Riddle explained, “While there has been some removal of big objects such as metal buildings from our past flooding event, there is still trash that blocks the water flow in some cases.”
Volunteers are needed for the creek cleanup scheduled for Saturday, October 7, 2023. Volunteers should arrive at Pelham City Park by 9:00 a.m. wearing clothes that they are comfortable getting wet or dirty. “There will be opportunities to clean throughout the park and along and in Bishop Creek. I recommend old tennis shoes for the creek,” Rainer stated. “People are welcome to bring waders, but they should know that knee-high wading boots will likely be overtopped when walking through the creek.” Volunteers of all ages are needed. “We will have a job for everyone,” said Ranier.