Volunteers Learn Civic Pride at Annual Clean Up

An estimated 100 volunteers met Saturday morning at Libertyville’s , to collect garbage bags and assignments for the 19th Annual Fall Clean Up event.

Coordinated by Keep Libertyville Beauitful Committee, the event draws volunteers from area boy, cub, brownie, and girl scout troops, as well as other residents, who work to clean up all 18 of Libertyville's public parks.

“The parks are looking pretty good these days,” said Gail Knachel, event coordinator and a Keep Libertyville Beautiful committee member. “But we still have some areas that need some work, and we have so much fun doing this. The kids are learning to take pride in their village, and this really gives us a chance to instill those values.”

Knachel says she has noticed that the past few years have produced less trash because the parks are generally cleaner now. As a result, this year she was able to instruct adult volunteers to spread out beyond the parks.

“We’re having them do PADS and other areas,” she said. “They’re going behind the theater, and anywhere where they see bad areas.”

Many scout troops are able to contribute to their community service hours or receive a badge for their help at the event. According to committee members, the children also enjoy finding odd or interesting pieces of garbage.

“Last year, we found a toilet,” Knachel said. “Of course, the kids just loved that. They love discovering something different.”

The Annual Clean Up event is one of five major projects that the committee executes each year. The committee's culd-de-sac program provides a $100 reimbursement to residents who perform an approved planting in village cul-de-sacs. They also hold property improvement awards for both residential and commercial property owners who work to beautify their home or business through renovations and improvements, instead of tear downs.

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