Every year, on the 16th of September, volunteers step up to the challenge to make Bidwell Park a cleaner overall place. The Annual Bidwell Park Clean Up is a yearly event in which concerned citizens of Chico, give it their all to save the environment. This event has clearly had a positive impact on the community.
A fellow park visitor who was not a part of the clean up crew, believes that this is making the community a better place. A man who was with his family cleaning, referenced a news story in which a bear died after eating too much plastic and how just a little amount of waste could affect several animals. “We all heard about the story of a bear that had pounds of plastic in its stomach, and walking around, I see trash in bear scat that the birds want to eat.” When asked if all of this hard work would pay off, a resident horse rider had this to say, “Any amount of trash you pick up pays off in a big way, doesn’t matter if you are doing it for yourself, or the environment, or anything else.”
A bike rider who was visiting all the way from Florida, commended people for their sense of community. “You can really tell that the community here really cares about their town. They are going out of their way to make others feel safe in the park.¨ The Annual Bidwell Park Clean Up happens every year around this time. If you wish to participate next year, there will be posters around campus that you can scan to sign up. You can also go to the Volunteer Program in the City of Chico site. Be a part of the effort to make Bidwell Park a better place for people and animals alike.