Fort Washington State Park to Hold Annual Cleanup

Fort Washington State Park will hold its annual park clean up April 13, from 9 a.m. 3 p.m.

The annual cleanup has been held for more than 20 years, in honor of Earth Day, and has been growing in participation for the last 15.

“We had 250 people last year,” said Eric Ihlein, Fort Washington State Park park manager. “It’s great. Our numbers are increasing, we get all ages coming out.”

While Ihlein said that the park’s maintenance staff continues the park’s upkeep, he adds that the park receives at least 600,000 visitors each year, and sees that the annual park clean up as a way to further connect with park visitors.

“A lot are repeat visitors,” Ihlein said. “Some come to eat lunch, have a picnic or walk their dog.”

Ihlein said those interested in volunteering should wear comfortable clothing and bring work or gardening gloves. Park staff will provide tools and other volunteering necessities.  

Volutneer projects will include:

• Litter pick-up

• Restoring picnic tables

• Spreading wood chips at the playground

• Raking leaves

• Tending to the gardens

• Clean up along the stream

• Clean up around the Watili Archery Club

The state park’s main office is located at 500 Bethlehem Pike in Fort Washington, where maps and staff should be available to direct volunteers to the meeting site, located at the observation deck in the Militia Hill section of the park.

For more information, contact Eric Ihlein at 215-591-5250 or fortwashingtonsp@pa.gov.

Ihlein adds that those interested for other volunteer opportunities at Fort Washington State Park or at other state parks by signing up to be a conservation volunteer.