Canal Pride Days Kicks Off With C&O Clean Up

Nearly 125 volunteers turned out Saturday at the to kick off the 5th Annual C&O Canal Pride Days, helping to restore and revitalize the park and local campgrounds.

The volunteers spent a combined 400 hours painting historical buildings, laying sod, polishing the canal boat and cleaning up trash and debris from the most heavily-visited areas along the 184.5-mile long park.

“The work of the [C&O Canal] Trust’s Canal Pride Days volunteers has a significant impact on the visual quality of the park and the experiences of its visitors,” said park superintendent Kevin Brandt. “By getting their hands dirty on a Saturday morning, they’re making a substantial investment in their local national park.”

Saturday's volunteers worked at the Great Falls Tavern and at Marsden Tract Campground, where Cub Scouts from Troop 61 worked to improve campgrounds. Troop 61, the same Troop that joined Justice William O. Douglas in his famous 1954 hike to save the canal, installed grills and fire rings, repair picnic tables and define campsites.

The event coincided with Earth Day, National Park Week and National Volunteer week.