Friends of Hurricane Creek, PARA team up to clean up with volunteers

HONORS COLLEGE CLEANUP 06-15-13 -- Peterson, Ala. -- Savannah Chandler, 18, from Ft. Myers, Fl., carries debris to be discarded during a cleanup along Hurricane Creek in Peterson, Ala. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013. More than 100 Honors College students at the University of Alabama worked on a community service project cleaning up tornado debris around the creek through the Outdoor Action service learning projects.(Dusty Compton / Tuscaloosa News) Tuscaloosa News

By Jason Morton
Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 4:27 p.m.

For the first time, the Friends of Hurricane Creek and the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority are partnering to clean up Hurricane Creek. But they're going to need some help.

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Volunteers are requested to assist in removing trash and debris from Hurricane Creek, Watson's Bend and Hurricane Creek Park on Alabama Highway 216 starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.

"This will be the first joint effort by the groups to clean up, preserve and protect Hurricane Creek," said Hurricane Creekkeeper John L. Wathen, who heads the Friends of Hurricane Creek organization. "We hope it leads to many years of such cooperation."

Wathen said the clean-up that began with 16 volunteers now has an average attendance of more than 60.

This year, Friends of Hurricane Creek will have 12 canoes (enough room for 24 people) to assist with navigating the creek during the clean-up, but Wathen asked that any volunteer who has a canoe to bring it along.

Shuttles also will be available to drive volunteers between the clean-up locations and the parking area on Highway 216.

Drinks, water, and snacks will be available to all volunteers during the cleanup and a pot-luck lunch will follow at the Holt Peterson Road crossing, where organizers are asking for dishes to serve the volunteers

The pot-luck will coincide with the 1:30 p.m. dedication of the bridge over Hurricane Creek on Holt Peterson Road to honor Jimmy and Addalyne Watson.

Wathen said the Watsons were the first donors to the Friends of Hurricane Creek when they contributed $20 toward feeding the volunteers during the first clean-up 21 years ago.

Those wishing to attend only the lunch and the bridge dedication are asked to be at the Watson's Bend site by 1 p.m., Wathen said.

With sunset, a bonfire will be lit for those who wish to hang out on the creek. Also, Friends of Hurricane Creek chip mulch made from trees toppled during the April 27, 2011 tornado at $5 per bag at the Watson's Bend site.

For more information about Friends of Hurricane Creek or details on the clean-up, contact Wathen at 205-507-0867.

For those wanting additional information on how to help preserve Hurricane Creek and the PARA-operated park connected to it, contact Becky Booker, PARA's public relations and marketing manager, at 205-562-3220.

Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0200.