WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– Around two dozen volunteers made their way to the Wabashiki Wetlands Sunday for an annual spring cleaning event at the park. 

Riverscape is the main organization that organizes the cleanup. The organization’s Vice President, Dan Bradley, said it’s an important event to keep the area clean– and the volunteers play a crucial part in that process.

“The flooding brings in litter. People throwing things out of their car driving by, accidental litter,” he said. “The state doesn’t provide enough resources to keep the area clean on its own, so it depends on volunteers to really get it done.”

The Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department assist with the event. Sean Sluyter, the natural resources programmer, said he was excited to see the volunteers helping out– especially on Earth Day weekend.

“Earth Day is an awesome day to bring in the focus on helping out, but we want to make sure we do help all year,” Sluyter said. “There is trash here all year and we want to make sure we keep our parks and our community clean.”

Bradley said he believes the area can be a tourist attraction– and keeping it tidy can help in that goal.

“Lots of trails, lots of opportunities to see birds and other wildlife. It’s really an attractive area for bringing tourists, and helping people with quality of life issues that live in Terre Haute,” he said. 

Riverscape plans to organize another cleanup day later in the year.