Community

I was fortunate to have the privilege of growing up on the Delaware and Raritan Canal. I taught myself to ride a bike, walked my dog, trained for running, and created many fond memories with friends and family on its trails. However, as I grew older, the turtles and fish I saw in the water were slowly being replaced by aluminum cans and floating plastic bags. We have to face the truth: the beautiful D & R Canal is in urgent need of cleaning. Together with my friend and classmate Anha, I created a plan to return the D & R Canal to its previous beauty.

The cleanup will begin at the canal towpath right off Alexander Road. This stretch of the canal is regularly used by students, bikers, joggers, and dog walkers. Unfortunately, it has gotten extremely polluted by the garbage thrown in it. This is a huge problem for locals who cherish this pristine pathway, as well as the animals that call this ecosystem their home.

The Earth day D&R Canal cleanup of 2021 will take place Saturday, April 23rd @ 9:45-12pm. We will meet at the Turning Basin Park. All necessary materials will be provided on site and volunteers of all ages are encouraged to help! There will also be an optional group tree meditation after the cleanup at noon to reconnect to nature, one another, and ourselves. Please click to join the Meetup Event: D&R Cleanup and Community Activism! Due to COVID-19, we encourage wearing masks and following social distance guidelines. If you would like to participate in the next cleanup, please use this form to RSVP: