A week after Stroll the Atoll, a smaller group of people gathered in Shiloh Square. This time they were adorned not with flowers and shells but rather with gloves and garbage bags in hand. They were armed big smiles and trash picking sticks. They were on a mission to help rid the Razorback Greenway of trash and debris. Through Adopt-a-Trail, the Consulate committed to taking care of a section of the Razorback Greenway that goes along Spring Creek which flows through the city between Downtown and Lake Springdale. On August 7, the Consulate hosted the first Marshallese Community Clean Up of the one mile section of the Greenway.
The Adopt-a-Trail Program is provided by the city of Springdale to promote “team building and community outreach opportunities with a purpose to promote and maintain the Springdale Trails system.” But, it is also an important way to keep the Greenway nice for everyone. Anyone can walk or bicycle on the Greenway and enjoy the trees and birds free of any street traffic. This and other clean up efforts, like Best Food Forward, assist with trail and creek cleanup, litter removal and cleaning of trail amenities. Adopt-a-Trail requires a commitment of three clean up events per year. After the first year, a sign will be posted near the adopted trail to recognize the Marshallese community’s contribution to keep the trail clean.
The Consulate posted on FB prior to the scheduled event: “Jab jako bwe eien adwoj ippan doon im bok kunaad ilo jukjukin bed in. Aolep im ruwainene! Jenaaj ioon doon ilo Shiloh Square ilo 10:30. Kom emmool aolep!” Don’t miss this opportunity for all of us to do our civic duty together. All are welcome! We will meet at Shiloh Square at 10:30. It continued: “Itok juon itok aolep! Itok kojwoj ippan doon im karreoki melan Springdale in. Kwoj jab aikuj sign up. Jedre tok wot kon mejen etton dikdik! Enaaj wor free shrit nan ro 50 im renaaj mokaj tok!” Come one, come all! All of us will help clean part of the Springdale creek. You don’t have to sign up. The first 50 people with get a free a t-shirt. The t-shirts said in English “I CLEANED Springdale 2021” but there were also shirts in Marshallese that said “IAR KARREOIK Springdale 2021.”
Participating community members split into two groups walking the trail from both ends, one group at Walter Tunrbow Park and the other at and meeting in the middle. A particularly nice section of the trail has a wooden walkway shaded by trees that leads up to the LightKeeper’s book shop. This is the only book store that I know about that keeps Marshallese Bibles (New International and King James Versions) and Hymnals in stock. The Blue Bible costs $36.16, the Black Bible is $29.58, and the song books costs $12.02 (prices here include tax).
Thank you everyone who came out to pick up trash on a Saturday morning. The Consulate General reported that the clean up was a great success!
