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Hundreds turn up to clean up Mill Creek Park
By Sean Barron
YOUNGSTOWN
It’s easy for anyone driving, walking or bicycling through Mill Creek MetroParks this time of year to notice the budding trees, vibrant colors replacing the browns of winter and the ubiquitous sounds and sights of birds.
But it’s also hard to miss what winter’s departure revealed: discarded cigarette butts, bottles and numerous other types of garbage.
Nevertheless, Anthony Habuda did his part to change that.
“I love coming out here and cleaning up,” said Anthony, a Boardman Glenwood Middle School sixth-grader and member of Boardman-based Boy Scout Troop 60. “I like cleaning up and keeping the park nice for people who walk daily, and for the animals.”
Anthony and fellow Troop 60 members were among those who took part in Saturday’s 31st annual Mill Creek MetroParks’ Earth Day cleanup gathering. Earth Day is Monday.
Sponsoring the effort were Mill Creek MetroParks and the Greater Western Reserve Council Whispering Pines District Boy Scouts of America.
An estimated 450 Boy and Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and adults donned gloves and took bags for trash and recyclable items, then removed litter from grassy knolls, wooded areas, trails and creeks in about 30 sites throughout the park during the three-hour cleanup.
Also lending a hand were eight members of Struthers-based Venturing Crew 101, a co-ed unit for those age 14 to 21 that’s affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America organization, noted Mike Kupec, the cleanup program’s chairman.
Anthony was part of a crew that beautified the Lower Bears Den area partly by getting rid of the usual plastic and glass bottles, cigarette butts and snack bags. His collection, however, contained a few unexpected items such as a lawn chair with three legs he found under a log.
Accompanying Anthony were his parents, Mike Zack and Chris Habuda, whose finds included various plastics and butts.
An assortment of glass, jugs and paper filled Nathan Grimes’ bag.
“I just wanted to come out and help clean up so the park’s cleaner,” said Nathan, 11, a member of Youngstown-based Troop 54 and a Glenwood Middle School fifth-grader, as he eyed the area on and along a trail near Pioneer Pavilion.
Todd Johnston, a Robinwood Lane Elementary School fourth-grader and member of Cub Scout Pack 54 of Boardman, learned his baseball practice had been canceled. As a result, he decided to dedicate his Saturday morning to making Mill Creek Park a bit cleaner.
“I wanted to help the community. If we didn’t do this, [the park] might go down if there’s too much trash,” said Todd, who also took pride in having sharp eyes that allowed him to spot a lot of cigarette remains along the way.
Just as important as removing trash from the park is the youngsters’ safety, noted Dave Chauvin, Troop 54’s Scoutmaster.
“They’re doing a great job out here,” he added.