Spring-cleaning at local parks, waterways

About 40 volunteers came out last Sunday to pick up litter at the Brookside Preserve in Baldwin and Freeport.

Courtesy Office of Laura Curran

Stelios Potamonsis, 7, carried away a big bag of leaves at Lofts Pond Park last Saturday during an Earth Day Cleanup.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Theo Walsh, of Cub Scout Pack 824, with help from his parents Valerie and Matthew, picked up a lot of garbage and leaves at Lofts Pond Park last Saturday during an Earth Day cleanup.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Many hands made light work at the cleanups over the weekend. Elizabeth Rattoballi, 16, left, and her mother Rosemary got some assistance from Assemblyman Brian Curran.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Ariana Potamonsis, 9, and Lucille Musto planted some flowers in a garden at Lofts Pond Park.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Colette Carrion and her daughter Nicolette, 13, helped out at Milburn Pond Park.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

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Some local parks and waterways are looking much prettier this week after two cleanups were held last weekend.

Volunteers flocked to Lofts Pond and Milburn Pond parks on April 18 for the annual Earth Day Cleanup, organized by Assemblyman Brian Curran, County Executive Ed Mangano and a host of community organizations.

Litter was taken out of the waterways, leaves were raked and flowers were planted at the parks on a picture-perfect spring day.

On April 19, County Legislator Laura Curran, in conjunction with the South Shore Audubon Society, hosted a cleanup at the Brookside Preserve. Volunteers got to work picking up trash and beautifying the area.

In addition to the more than 15 full bags of trash that were collected, a see-saw at the preserve will be restored, rejuvenated and placed in the Baldwin Community Garden for community use.  

“The Brookside Preserve is a wonderful place to go, and we are lucky to have such a beautiful preserve in our backyard,” said Laura Curran. “Thank you to all of the amazing volunteers who came together on Sunday and helped keep it beautiful for everyone to continue to enjoy.”