Volunteers invited to participate in Brackenridge Park cleanup

When the barbecue pit smoke clears, mounds of trash often remains after the traditional Easter holiday festivities at Brackenridge Park. For that reason, the City of San Antonio, in partnership with the Brackenridge Park Conservancy, San Antonio River Authority and San Antonio Water System, is inviting citizens to join in a volunteer cleanup effort at the park, 3700 N. St. Mary’s St., from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 13. Volunteers may check in at the Joske Pavilion between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Refreshments will be available at 10:00 a.m. at Joske Pavilion in appreciation of volunteer efforts.

Volunteers will pick up the trash and debris left by hundreds of families who will enjoy the holiday tradition of camping out in the park from Thursday night, April 9, through Sunday, April 12, at 11:00 p.m. In addition, the San Antonio River Authority’s new environmental messaging will be on display in Brackenridge Park during the Easter Weekend festivities to help encourage citizens to properly dispose of trash and recyclable items.

After the cleanup, Brackenridge Conservancy President June Kachtik will be joined in Joske Pavilion by city officials as they thank the volunteers for their efforts. Kachtik will also discuss the Conservancy’s future efforts on behalf of the popular and historic park.

“Brackenridge Park is one of the most heavily used parks in the San Antonio system. Because of its very popularity, we must do everything we can to protect the future of this park to ensure that citizens for generations to come will be able to bring their children here to enjoy it,” Kachtik says. “The Conservancy allows us to formalize our efforts in a way that permit us to consistently sustain them.”

The Brackenridge Park Conservancy, formed in October 2008, has as its goals to represent the interests of the park user, tie the park together in one coherent place, and augment resources dedicated to this particular park, including volunteers, expertise, funding and advocacy.

The Conservancy plans to raise funds for projects that benefit the park, as well as advise City Council, support the evolution and implementation of plans for the park, and act as a forum for users to address common issues and build consensus. The Conservancy will work closely with the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department.