Amarillo community called to join cleanup efforts at flood-damaged lakes
Published: Tue, 06/13/23
Amarillo community called to join cleanup efforts at flood-damaged lakes
ABC7 News
by Drew Powell
AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — Amarillo city leaders are organizing cleanup projects this month to address flood damage at area lakes.
First up, Medi Park Lake on June 17, followed by McDonald Lake on June 24. Area civic clubs along with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are planning to lend a hand but due to the amount of garbage from the flooding, a call to the community is needed for additional help.
“The rain this spring has been a wonderful blessing in the Panhandle but it’s the extra rain these last few weeks that has created a problem,” said Chrystene Speed, Amarillo West Rotary president-elect.
The problem is trash that lines along the lakes and if it’s not picked up, it creates a hazard.
“The trash and all that gets washed into the gutters and then into our storm drains and then into the lakes so that’s why we’re starting here at Medi Park Lake,” said Don Tipps, city council Place 2. “We’ve all seen it. We just got to get it taken care of.”
“It isn’t a time to come sit and enjoy the parks and the lakes, it’s a time to come out and do service and do work,” said Speed. “There will be dumpsters on site so all the trash will be picked up.”
By making a call to the citizens of Amarillo the hope is that if this proves to be successful more people will take pride and want to volunteer as more events are going to be planned in the future to spruce up the city.
“We want to catapult this,” said Tipps. “We want to use this as an opportunity while everybody is aware that if this goes well then we move into the neighborhoods. We take one neighborhood at a time and help get their neighborhoods and allies cleaned up.”
The lake at Medi Park is first on Saturday followed by McDonald Lake a week from Saturday allowing the water level there to recede. Organizers will provide basic necessities to do work cleanup while supplies last.
“Volunteers need to bring trash bags, it’s going to be dirty and you’ll want to wear old clothes, closed-in shoes, long pants and be prepared to pick up dirty wet trash,” said Robert Altman, Golden Spread Council Board member.
“We just really need all of our citizens to help take pride and step up and come out and help,” said Speed.