Grab your boots, gloves and passion for a cleaner planet — Indianapolis is throwing a massive cleanup party for Earth Day.
The City of Indianapolis and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) and a lineup of community partners are teaming up to restore over five miles of Pleasant Run.
This large-scale initiative, set for Saturday, April 19, will span over five miles, from Emhardt Park to Christian Park, in what organizers call the most extensive waterway cleanup in the city’s history.
“Earth Day is the perfect time to highlight the crucial work of community organizations and our dedicated volunteers who are doing the crucial work to help keep our environment healthy,” Mayor Joe Hogsett said.
Hogsett encouraged all Indianapolis residents to join the effort and help restore the city’s waterways and public spaces.
Preparations for the cleanup began earlier this week with family-friendly and targeted efforts.
The event’s scope goes beyond volunteer efforts. Before public cleanups began, KIB partnered with Keys2Work and RecycleForce to address challenging areas along Pleasant Run. Over 14 hours were dedicated to clearing low-shoulder areas and heavy debris, ensuring volunteers could focus on the broader stretch of the waterway on Saturday.
Jeremy Kranowitz, CEO and President of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, underscored the significance of the effort, saying, “This is a powerful opportunity for individuals to take action and contribute to something bigger than themselves.”
Volunteers will gather at eight designated cleanup sites on Saturday, working morning and afternoon shifts to maximize impact. Supplies will be provided, including litter grabbers, gloves and trash bags. Participants are encouraged to register through KIB’s website and to wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy boots.
Collaborations with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Indy Parks and Recreation, Professional Blended Street Outreach, Southside Landfill, and others make the initiative possible.
For more information, visit kibi.org.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
