Loving Laredo Mega Cleanup of Chacon Hike & Bike Trail
Written by admin, Nov 19, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
(Laredo, Tx)- Volunteers from throughout the community are needed this Sunday for a unique partnership that will involve nearly 60 soldiers from the National Guard unit, members of RGISC and city staff.
Civilian volunteers and soldiers will haul off debris and trash from the Chacon creek bed and trail route. The targeted area will be the stretch from Hwy 359 to S. Zapata Hwy. This is a great opportunity for adults, as well as students who need to earn community service hours.
The Cleanup will take place this Sunday, Nov. 20, starting at 8 a.m. Volunteers will meet at the parking lot of Dryden Park, located at 2700 Diaz Street between New York Ave. and S. Zapata Hwy. Lunch will be provided.
“This is a beautiful trail that needs our help,” said Tricia Cortez, RGISC executive director who saw the extent of debris along the trail during an August Loving Laredo Hike. “We’re excited about this partnership with the National Guard and the city, and we hope that with the help of the public, we can establish a cleaner creek and hiking trail where people will think twice before dumping their trash.”
The idea for the cleanup took root this past summer during RGISC’s Loving Laredo Hike at Chacon Creek. Hiker Popo Gonzalez, a Martin High School ROTC instructor, saw the need for a major cleanup and a conversation with his son, Sgt. First Class Adolfo “Pope” Gonzalez Jr., a National Guardsman, sparked the initiative to partner with RGISC.
“Our commander, Cpt. Jose A. Perez, wanted us to do a project that would really give back and make an impact because of the overwhelming support that we received from the community before, during and after our three mobilizations to Iraq and Afghanistan,” explained Sgt. 1st Class Pope Gonzalez.
“We can’t do everything in one day, but once people see us cleaning the trail, and helping out, and then using it, they will feel a greater sense of ownership,” Gonzalez said.
When RGISC asked for the City’s assistance with heavy equipment, city management mobilized several departments to prepare for and participate in the Chacon Creek cleanup.
Assistant City Manager Jesus “Chuy” Olivares said that once the city completes all phases of the Chacon trail, it will stretch from the river to Lake Casa Blanca.
“This Cleanup is a partnership that will enable the trail system to move to the next level where citizens will be able to have access to these regional parks straight from their neighborhoods,” Olivares said.
“It’s always good to have collaborating partners in the community so that we can leverage our resources in order for us to make improvements in our hike and bike trails,” he added.
Councilman Esteban Rangel, who took the lead on moving forward with this project, agreed and said he is excited by the public’s enthusiasm to improve the Chacon Hike & Bike Trail.
