Salado Creek Foundation

Trash Splash A Success

Dec 10, 2002

Dead dogs and stinky mattresses. Shredded tires and moldy couches. Broken toys and old, bad batteries. If you can imagine a treasure trove of trash scattered about a scene blooming with thousands of shredded plastic grocery bags, then you can begin to picture the scene at the first ever Salado Trash Splash, a cleanup event in what will become the first section of a multi-million dollar Hike and Bike Trail on Salado Creek.

Salado Creek Foundation sponsored the Saturday event on December 7 and when it was over tons of trash was on the way to the landfill.

The morning began with a toasty welcome at the office of the Center for Health Care Services at 3474 East Commerce. Volunteers were glad to find hot coffee and a warm reception at the neighborhood health provider. Unit coordinator Lona Carter helped make sure everyone got off to a good start.

Volunteers from the Coliseum / Willow Park Neighborhood Association laid out a tasty spread of treats and they also worked to collect litter in the area near the East Commerce Street bridge on the creek. Salado Creek flows below DaFoste Park and forms the eastern boundary of their neighborhood.

Steep banks made the litter collection effort an even greater challenge but hardy volunteers came up with several innovative ways to get the job done. Some, like Jennifer Westerman, who lives near Salado Creek's northern reach about Loop 1604, found that looping around to a manmade culvert made her job easier. Others, like John Roy of AquaLogic, preferred the direct route, hauling the heavy debris straight uphill. Way to go John!

AquaLogic, a firm that specializes in storm water abatement filter systems, made a generous cash donation to cover the cost of hospitality for the event. Alamo KOA Kampground and Green Haven Industries also made donations to help stage the event.

The volunteers were thankful for the support of Erik Hobson from the San Antonio Water System. Erik brought gloves and what seemed like at least a million trash bags. He also brought the voice of experience because he has coordinated many cleanup events on the Leon Creek Greenway in northwest San Antonio. Support also came from several divisions of the City of San Antonio including Environmental Services, Volunteer Services in the Parks Department, Public Works and the Storm Water Management groups.

An incredible crew from the Bexar County Adult Probation Zero Tolerance Facility muscled their way through most of the heavy hauling, toting and lifting. Steve Balderas and a number of SAPD SAFFE Officers did a great job of helping coordinate this part of the work, filling a large grappler truck to the rim with filthy debris.

Salado Creek Foundation board member Ernie Garcia usually spends Saturday mornings doing yard work at his church, but he decided to devote a day to the creek instead. He was rewarded for his work when he won a drawing for Rampage tickets that were thoughtfully provided by SAWS. Reverend Milbrew Davis of the C/WP Neighborhood Association was a winner as well, and everyone who wanted one walked away with an adorable t-shirt, courtesy of SAWS.

A time of fellowship and food followed the hard work. Mrs. Wray Hood thanked everyone for coordinating a long-overdue effort to turn an eyesore into an asset. Then members of the group offered a prayer of thanksgiving before they crowded outside to take some group photos of the happy occasion. A bright banner donated by SilkScreen Station provided a picture perfect backdrop...and a cheerful close to what surely will become a regular event on the Salado Creek, San Antonio's Real River Walk.

For more information about SCF, call Charles Bartlett of Green Haven Industries at 337-6428.