2002 Newsroom Archive

Rolling Up the Sleeves on Earth Day and Creek Week.

Community leaders and volunteers to preserve and enhance Bannon Creek Parkway

Sacramento, California, April 18, 2002 – Creeks are more than just natural waterways for rain runoff to spill into rivers and lakes; they are preserves for scores of plants and animal life throughout the City of Sacramento. Students, naturalists, and everyday people journey to these sloughs and creeks to learn and observe the natural habitat that call it home. Unfortunately, the human neighbors that leave behind – either by accident or on purpose – junk, garbage, tires, refrigerators, stoves, cars, and other debris that is choking the life from these natural surroundings are destroying these creeks.

This Saturday, April 20, 2002, volunteers will assemble at Bannon Creek Park to clean-up the creek, plant new trees and flowers, remove graffiti and repaint fences. It all begins at 8:30 a.m. with a volunteer check-in, followed by the clean up, and ends with an Earth Day celebration and free BBQ.

Mayor Heather Fargo successfully obtained a grant of $2,000 from the California State Parks Foundation to be used for tree planting and clean-up materials, including stakes and fertilizers, trash bags, gloves, and paint and painting supplies for the fencing. Scores of volunteers, community organizations, students and area residents will be working hard to remove this blight and pollution from our natural waterway as part of Earth Day and Creek Week. In addition, Councilmember Ray Tretheway, who is also executive director of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, is a matching sponsor donating trees, staff and volunteers.

“The trail corridor connects different parts of this community,” said Mayor Fargo. “ Trail users include dog walkers, joggers, people in wheel chairs, people with strollers, roller bladers, commuters walking to and from work, people walking for exercise or just to be out. It’s a beautiful combination of nature in a very suburban setting.”

Bannon Creek Parkway connects the community of South Natomas with a bike trail and jogging path that begins at the Garden Highway and winds along the Bannon Slough to San Juan Road. Mayor Heather Fargo and Councilmember Ray Tretheway will be among the many volunteers rolling up their sleeves to clean-up Bannon Creek Parkway. The media is encouraged to see how serious this matter is in our community.

DATE: Saturday, April 20, 2002

WHERE: Bannon Creek Park, located at Azevedo Drive and Bannon Creek Drive; covered picnic area

TIME: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.