Volunteers Show Up to Clean Up

More than 240 volunteers showed up Saturday, March 5 to help clean up trash in the Neabsco Creek Watershed around the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk and Eagle’s Park in Woodbridge.

“The turnout is great,” said Bill McCarty president of the Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition. “The community is really supporting this Neabsco Boardwalk area and it’s wonderful to see.”

Some of the volunteers who came to the Neabsco Creek Big Spring Cleanup Event use the parks regularly. Others just thought it was a good idea to help.

“We walk here all the time, and we see all the stuff and think, ‘Someone ought to do something about it.’ When we heard that they were doing something about it, we decided to come out and help,” said Paul Jacobsmeyer who came to clean up with his wife Lisa. “It’s a wonderful place to walk. There’s plenty of wildlife to see.”

“It’s great to see the turnout. This is awesome,” Lisa Jacobsmeyer said.

Some people recognized extra benefits to helping.

“I can help clean up and it’s good to get outside, especially during the pandemic,” said 18-year-old Tacari Edwards, who came out with his mother Carnetta Edwards and his friend Jose Acosta.

“Just helping clean up the outside is a good thing,” Acosta said.

Volunteers collected 157 large bags of plastic and trash, 40 tires, two fire extinguishers, and a couple of large barrels, according to Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District Water Quality Programs Manager Veronica Tangiri.

“We appreciate the participation of the groups and all of the individuals and families who helped to remove trash from this scenic natural resource and recreation area,” Tangiri said.

Northern Virginia Geocaching Organization, Hylton High School Air Force Junior ROTC, Freedom High School Air Force Junior ROTC, Girl Scout Troop 4578, Pearlettes, Amicettes and Archonettes, Prince William NAACP, ZETA Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Omicron Theta Zeta Chapter partnered with the coalition during the cleanup.