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Volunteer documents 1,021 tennis balls, urges barrier and proactive cleanup for Dudley Branch creek behind Creekview High
Summary
A Creekview community volunteer told the board she has collected more than 1,000 tennis balls and 112 bags of trash from Dudley Branch and urged the district to partner on a proactive barrier and cleanup plan that could include Eagle Scout or class projects.
Annette Reese, a volunteer working on creek cleanups along Dudley Branch behind Creekview High School, told trustees on Jan. 16 she has collected 1,021 tennis balls from the creekbed since she began documenting cleanups in December 2021 and that ad-hoc efforts continue to turn up large trash loads.
Reese said 17 documented trash picks have involved 41 volunteers and about 6575 volunteer hours, yielding 112 bags of trash along with large items including chemical-labeled barrels, tires and a porta-potty door. She told the board two recent cleanup efforts this month recovered 15 trash bags and 324 tennis balls.
Reese asked the district to consider installing a barrier between the mulch line and the natural creekbed to prevent trash from reaching the water, and to engage the school community and local organizations (Eagle Scout projects, booster clubs, classes) to create a proactive, sustainable cleanup and prevention program.
District and city contacts, she said, have been notified in prior years and she reported some improvement after earlier collaboration but said the problem persists and needs a permanent, proactive solution.
The board received the comment during the public-comment period and did not take action at the meeting; Reese said she looks forward to a district response.
