Spring Beach Clean-Up Success!
Spring Beach Clean-Up Success!
The results are in, and we are absolutely blown away by the turnout for this year’s Annual Spring Clean-Up. On Sunday, March 29, the Friends of Parker River NWR and refuge staff welcomed a staggering 166 volunteers—more than double our typical attendance!
Together, we accomplished an immense amount of work to prepare the refuge for the coming season:
Beach & Marsh Restoration: Volunteers scoured the shoreline, salt marshes, and the refuge road. Thanks to your hard work, we filled a 15-cubic-yard dumpster provided by Casella Waste Systems to the very top—a first in our event’s history!
Trail Maintenance: While the beaches were being cleared, dedicated teams were hard at work on our trail system. Maintenance was completed on the Pines Trail and the Hellcat boardwalk, ensuring a safe and beautiful experience for our summer visitors.
Special Projects: We successfully removed a derelict telescope from Lot #5, and special thanks go to Ella for her tireless efforts in hauling mountains of trash off the sand.
Honoring a Legacy
The day was also marked by a moving ceremony at the Pines Trail observation platform. We were joined by the family of Peter Hickey for the installation of a plaque in his honor. It was a wonderful opportunity to share stories of Peter’s many contributions to the refuge and celebrate his lasting impact on this land.
Heartfelt Thanks
An event of this scale requires immense coordination. We want to thank Lorene, Lynette, Dianne, Ellie, and Ted for greeting our 100+ guests with smiles and direction at Lot #1. We also want to welcome our 30+ new Friends members who joined us during the event!
To every volunteer who brought a pair of gloves and a passion for conservation: Thank you. You have made a direct, positive impact on the nesting habitats of Piping Plovers and Least Terns, and we couldn’t have done it without you.
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