CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Great weather on Saturday provided a perfect day for early Earth Day activities. Earth Day is a worldwide annual event, traditionally celebrated on April 22 to support environmental protection, conservation, and sustainment initiatives.

At Billy Dunlop Park this meant a day of volunteer trash-pickup for many groups and individuals from the Clarksville-Montgomery County community.

The enjoyment of working together in the park included families and crossed all age groups. Elizabeth Van Otten attended with her three boys.

“I think it’s important to teach our kids that we all need to pitch in to take care of the Earth. It’s great to see everyone out here celebrating Earth Day in Clarksville,” Van Otten said.

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The groups in attendance included local Boy Scout troops, student volunteers from Clarksville High School, various local churches, Sierra Club-Clarksville-Montgomery County, and local individuals wishing to make the park a better place for families to enjoy.

Recycle Clarksville, owned by Anne and Trevor Law, volunteered their time and equipment to collect all recyclable items the volunteers picked up during the day.

Billy Dunlop Park has many trash cans on-site for trash and recycling, yet the trash volunteers collected included plastic bottles, food packages, cans, cigarettes, and even a small refrigerator. These items not only take away the beauty of the park, but can also lead to hazards for the environment and animals. For instance, chemicals from plastics can leach into the ground water, and animals, such as birds, can pick up cigarettes to feed to their offspring. Keeping the park clean makes it a safer place for everyone.

JoAnn McIntosh, Chairwoman of the Sierra Club-Clarksville-Montgomery County, helped organize a group of individuals for the day’s activities. She expressed her pleasure with the end result.

“I’m happy to help with the cleanup and recycling. Plus, I’m really impressed with the turnout and the people willing to keep the parks green and clean,” said McInTosh.