By all accounts, the 2007 version of the Spokane River Cleanup event was a tremendous success.

And a lot of accounting took place to measure the event’s accomplishments. For instance, more than 750 people turned out to take part. 12,000 pounds of garbage - that’s six TONS - was collected. There wasn’t a tally on acres cleaned, but the number of volunteers enabled teams of workers to venture much further downstream than before - some nearly to Riverside State Park. Approximately 2,500 pounds of the refuse was recycled. Spokane Transit Authority (STA) took part for the first time by running a special free shuttle service for participants, who could then park at nearby Spokane Falls Community College and ride to the event, or ride to downstream cleanup areas.

For the first time, this year’s event allowed folks to join one of 13 “teams” assigned to mapped areas along the river, with names ranging from “hummingbird” to “moose” to - of course - “marmot.”

Mayor Dennis Hession was present as in years past, and provided a great send-off message just before the cleanup began.

Even press coverage set new standards. Two news articles appeared in the Spokesman-Review, plus a very nice editorial printed just prior to the event. Add to that support and coverage from one of our favorite reads, Out There! Monthly.

So here’s a huge “Thank You” to everyone that participated, including Clean Up sponsors Kendall Yards, Avista Utilities, and Washington Trust Bank, as well as to the 33 (!) groups and organizations contributing as event partners. For a complete listing of these groups, check out the half-page ad published in November’s Out There! Monthly, linked below.

See also copies of the Spokesman’s coverage and a nice photo gallery we’ve put together of the event, images courtesy of John D. Moore.

Missed it? Want to make plans for next year? Mark your calendars: the 2008 Spokane River Cleanup event will take place October 4th!

Spokesman Article, October 7 (80 Kb, Acrobat® file)
Spokesman Article, October 11 (72 Kb, Acrobat® file)
Spokesman Editorial, October 6 (52 Kb, Acrobat® file)
OTM Advert (144 Kb, Acrobat® file)
Event Snapshots (Flash™ Gallery)

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