Great Parks of Hamilton County will welcome dozens of volunteers to beautify Winton Woods and Winton Lake during the Winton Woods Cleanup on Saturday, April 9, starting at 9 a.m. (details below). The Winton Woods Cleanup, now in its 33rd year, serves to improve Winton Lake and the surrounding area for boaters, paddlers and wildlife that call the area home.

Each year volunteers descend on the park to pick up trash and litter deposited in the park and in the watershed that eventually washes into the lake. Working in small groups, they fan out to collect trash left in the woods, by the shores of Winton Lake, and alongside the trails that wind through the park.

At last year’s cleanup, 162 volunteers collected 73 bags of recyclables and 1.8 tons of trash and debris, ranging from bottles and fast-food bags to larger items including car tires and even furniture. Smaller items can be just as important for volunteers to remove due to the risk of being ingested by wildlife.

Volunteers are provided with garbage bags and gloves and should dress appropriately for the weather and the possibility of working in muddy areas. A grilled lunch, provided by JTM and Forest Park Environmental Awareness, will be provided after the cleanup including raffle prizes courtesy of Forest Park Wild Birds Unlimited.

Volunteers will gather at 9 a.m. at a handful of central locations at Winton Woods, located at 10245 Winton Road, Cincinnati, OH, 45231. Volunteers will fan out throughout the park starting at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Advance registration is recommended. For more information about volunteering for the Winton Woods Cleanup and other events, visit the Great Parks Get Involved webpage and select One-Day Volunteering.