Every spring, we’re reminded that New Yorkers don’t just love their public lands. They show up for them.

Over the course of just a few weeks this spring, thousands of volunteers rolled up their sleeves and helped care for some of the places that make New York special. Through Canal Clean Sweep and I Love My Park Day, communities across the state came together to improve trails, restore habitats, plant trees, and remove an astonishing amount of litter and debris.

Canal Clean Sweep

During Canal Clean Sweep, held April 17–19, more than 2,000 volunteers participated in 137 cleanup events across New York’s Canalway Corridor. Together, they removed more than 37,642 pounds of trash from waterways and trails. That’s more than 18 tons of litter no longer polluting our public spaces.

Volunteers filled over 1,200 bags with everyday trash, but as anyone who has participated in a cleanup knows, people seem to discard some truly baffling things. This year’s collection included a minivan backseat, multiple televisions, 59 tires, and one lone toilet.

Beyond the unusual discoveries, volunteers tackled some of the less glamorous but equally important work of stewardship. Teams removed invasive species, cleared driftwood, and prepared canalway trails for the busy recreation season ahead. Their efforts will help ensure that residents and visitors alike can enjoy cleaner, safer, and more welcoming trails and waterways throughout the year.

I Love My Park Day

Just two weeks later, on May 2, volunteers once again answered the call for I Love My Park Day.

While reports are still coming in from some locations, data from 124 of the 160 participating sites already tells an incredible story. A total of nearly 3,800 volunteers participated, including hundreds of young people with 19% of volunteers under the age of 18. Together, they removed more than 26,000 pounds of trash from parks across the state.

Volunteers discovered two electric vehicles, a scooter, a bicycle, a car fender, an ATV headlight, and 25 pounds of miscellaneous automotive parts. They removed hazardous materials including a paint bucket, a full jug of motor oil, an oil filter, a fire extinguisher, and a massive 770-pound glass and metal dump site.

Along shorelines and waterfronts, teams cleared mountains of storm-washed Styrofoam, recovered a kayak with a metal oar, documented an abandoned boat for municipal removal, and collected dozens of shotgun shells.

But the impact of I Love My Park Day extends far beyond trash removal.

Volunteers cleaned, created, or enhanced 277 miles of trails while working across 1,124 acres of public land. They planted 1,550 trees and 1,122 shrubs, potted or distributed 403 seedlings, and helped maintain hundreds more trees and shrubs already growing in parks and communities. They also created or improved 354 gardens and removed more than 5,000 pounds of invasive species.

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Programs like Canal Clean Sweep and I Love My Park Day would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and partners. Your investment in stewardship, conservation, recreation, and community engagement helps make these events possible in every corner of New York State.