The event was organized by the Nimishillen Creek Watershed Partners, and over 40 volunteers (several pictured above) from throughout Northeast Ohio gathered on a beautiful Saturday morning to pick up over 5 truck loads of trash and tires from in and around Nimishillen Creek near Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium and Esmont Park.  The 2003 Creek LEAP was especially timely because this section of the Creek was hit hard by the July floods in this portion of the state.  The clean-up was followed by a free "Thank You" picnic for all the hard working volunteers.

Besides clean-up volunteers, the 2003 Nimishillen Creek LEAP also had tremendous support from local agencies and businesses.  The Watershed Partners were able to hold such a successful event thanks largely to the support from LEAP sponsors.  These sponsors, listed at the bottom of the page, covered all the event costs including equipment and supplies like dumpsters, trash hauling, rakes, shovels, gloves, trash bags, food and beverage.  Thank You!

Below are some pictures from the 2003 LEAP.  Click on the image to see a larger view.

Some of the event organizers pose for a picture.

Trash along the banks prior to the clean-up.

Pre-LEAP:

A wrapper up in a tree

Tire in the Creek!

A barrel that washed into Esmont Park.

Volunteers picking up litter in Esmont Park.

More litter being hauled out.

Heavy equipment was need to move the big stuff.

A volunteer trying to pull a car seat out along the bank of the Creek by the Stadium.

5 truckloads were removed from the area.

Unloading the trash.

The volunteers enjoying a picnic after a morning of garbage removal.

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2003 LEAP SPONSORS:

City of Canton Water Pollution Control Center, Stark Parks, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Building Industry Association, Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility, L&M Refuse, Donut Connection, R. D. England Drainage Service and Supplies, Stark County 4-H Advisory Council, Stark - Tuscarawas - Wayne Joint Solid Waste District, Smith Dairy, K. W. Zellers & Sons, Inc., Earth Action Partnership, and Humbert Sanitary Services.

2003 Creek LEAP Announcement