Join Us For A Park Cleanup This Spring

Once winter wanes, snow melts, and visitors begin streaming back to outdoor spaces, all is revealed. Unfortunately, this often means unsightly and habitat-harming litter that has accumulated over the past several months.

You can help keep our county parks and habitat areas thriving and reduce our human impact by assisting with park cleanup efforts. Spring is a great, generally temperate time of year to accomplish this work, as litter is more visible before spring ephemerals and other vegetation start popping up.

Peruse upcoming cleanup opportunities around Pottawattamie County today and consider signing yourself or a group of friends and family up for some outdoor "spring cleaning" today!

Upcoming Park Cleanup Events:

1. Litter Busters Park Cleanup | Saturday, April 26th

Click to Learn More & Register Today

• What: Follow in the footsteps of the Dump Busters, who saved Hitchcock Nature Center from becoming a dump, by joining our annual park cleanup. Volunteers will be provided cleanup supplies (if needed), hit the trails, and return to either lodge to weigh, sort, and record their findings. Litter weight is recorded by park staff and volunteers to better understand the impact of visitors on the park. During last year's event, 20 pounds of litter were collected from Hitchcock Nature Center, and 40 pounds were collected from Mt. Crescent (now Crescent Hill at Hitchcock).
• Where:
  • Hitchcock Nature Center | 27792 Ski Hill Loop Honey Creek, IA 51542
  • Crescent Hill at Hitchcock (previously Mt. Crescent Ski Area) | 17026 Snowhill Lane Honey Creek, IA 51542
• When: Saturday, April 26th
• Time: Anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

2. Crescent Wildlife Area Cleanup | Anytime/Flexible

Please email Volunteer & Facilities Coordinator Dana Kruse to sign up today.

• What: Cleanup project perfect for a group of 4-8 at a Pottawattamie County habitat area. Habitat areas are not maintained like other county parks and are accessible year-round for outdoor recreation. Trashbags can be arranged to be left onsite, or you can bring your own. Filled bags can be left onsite, and conservation staff will pick them up.
• Where: Crescent Wildlife Area | 24668 Liberty Lane Crescent, Iowa 51526
• When: Anytime/Flexible

3. Honey Creek Conservation Area Cleanup | Anytime/Flexible

Please email Volunteer & Facilities Coordinator Dana Kruse to sign up today.

• What: Cleanup project perfect for a group of 4-8 at a Pottawattamie County habitat area. Our habitat areas are designed so the natural environment dominates the landscape. Unlike our parks, these areas are minimally developed, oftentimes with little more than a parking lot, to encourage a more natural setting where the area's wildlife and landscape take center stage. Trashbags can be arranged to be left onsite, or you can bring your own. Filled bags can be left onsite, and conservation staff will pick them up.
• Where: Honey Creek Conservation Area | 28120 145th St. Crescent, Iowa 51526
• When: Anytime/Flexible

4. Blackbird Marsh and Narrows River Park Cleanup | Anytime/Flexible

Please email Volunteer & Facilities Coordinator Dana Kruse to sign up today.

• What: We are looking for a small group of 4-6 people to pick up trash along the road next to Blackbird Marsh, a Pottawattamie Conservation Habitat Area. This nature preserve is located behind Walmart on North 16th Street. We are also looking for the same group to visit the nearby Narrows River Park to also pick up trash. This cleanup project may take 2-4 hours. Great for a family or small work group. Trashbags can be arranged to be left onsite, or you can bring your own. Filled bags can be left onsite, and conservation staff will pick them up.
• Where (two locations):
  • Blackbird Marsh | Intersection of I-29 and 16th Street Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
  • Narrows River Park | 2500 North 25th Street Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
• When: Anytime/Flexible

What do you want your legacy to be? Explore thought-provoking ideas on how you can improve our environment.