The EE Sampler - Jefferson County Public Schools
The EE Sampler - Jefferson County Public Schools
The EE Sampler - Jefferson County Public Schools
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A Beargrass Creek Experience<br />
By: Dustin Kostalek<br />
Being a native of Western Kentucky and not too familiar with all the sites and attractions<br />
surrounding the Louisville area, I was excited to have the opportunity to paddle on Beargrass<br />
Creek. My Urban Water class had volunteered to participate in a cleanup held at Beargrass<br />
Creek and then we were going to paddle for the rest of the afternoon. Prior to arriving at the<br />
creek, I had expected there to be some trash scattered along the banks, but what I saw was<br />
unbelievable. <strong>The</strong> amount of trash in the creek and all along the banks was disheartening. After<br />
seeing the unexplainable items that had been tossed into the river, I could understand why the<br />
creek was no longer safe for fishing or swimming. When items such as: shopping carts, car<br />
batteries, glass plates, old recreation equipment, metal items, and even an old Volkswagen Beetle<br />
are present in or along the creek, you know there is a problem.<br />
My class, which was made up of fifteen students and two instructors, gathered several<br />
bags of garbage during the cleanup. However, when we were finished collecting garbage, it<br />
seemed like we did not make that much of a difference. <strong>The</strong> amount of waste and filth in<br />
Beargrass Creek is so great that it is going to take a collective effort from the community over<br />
the next several years to return the creek to the state that it should be. Our class participated in a<br />
well organized cleanup attempt; however, the amount of volunteers that were present that<br />
Saturday morning was a little discouraging. Besides our class, there were maybe ten to twelve<br />
volunteers helping out in the effort. For Beargrass Creek to become safe for recreation again, it<br />
is going to take a greater commitment from the local community in the cleanup effort.<br />
Our class has also had the opportunity to paddle other local bodies of water such as:<br />
Harrods Creek and Floyds Fork, each of which was much more enjoyable than our time spent at<br />
Beargrass Creek. <strong>The</strong>re is no reason why a day spent on Beargrass Creek can not be as<br />
enjoyable as spending a day on any other local body of water. That Saturday spent on Beargrass<br />
Creek made me realize that we, as a society, need to start taking better care of our natural<br />
resources quickly before it becomes too late. I think people of all ages deserve a chance to<br />
experience and enjoy the many pleasures of a day spent at the creek. In a society, where we are<br />
always telling people to get out and enjoy nature and the world, it is hard to tell someone to<br />
enjoy a creek where there are old car batteries in the water and rusty shopping carts along the<br />
bank.<br />
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