City seeks volunteers to ‘spruce up’ West Wetlands Saturday

Volunteers can help enhance grant project

The Yuma city government and the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area are teaming up to restore additional areas in Yuma’s West Wetlands, but to get the most out of a grant helping to fund that project, both are asking residents for a little bit of their time Saturday morning.

Parks and Recreation’s annual Spruce Up Your Park day will take place Saturday from 7-10 a.m. starting at the boat launch at West Wetlands Park, 282 N. 12th Ave.

“Please help out if you can, or help spread the word to someone who might be available,” the city said in a press release.

Volunteers are needed to help clean up trash and debris in the park in preparation for invasive vegetation removal, which will begin the following week.

Work will take place between Centennial Beach and the 4th Avenue Bridge. Volunteers should park either in the parking area provided for the boat launch or in the lot adjacent to the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground.

Volunteers are asked to wear long pants and closed-toed shoes and bring their own hats and sunscreen. Some supplies will be provided; however, if they have a favorite pair of work gloves or a shovel, they are welcome to bring those, too.

This event will kickoff the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management grant project recently awarded to the Heritage Area to restore 28 acres of riparian habitat in the West Wetlands.

This grant project will also provide funding to create an outdoor recreational classroom at West Wetlands Park and will provide a contiguous riverfront trail connection from West Wetlands Park to the Yuma East Wetlands.