Volunteers wanted to help clean up Rouge River on Saturday

Annual Rouge Rescue effort is Saturday morning at several work sites

DEARBORN, Mich. – Friends of the Rouge is seeking volunteers to help clean up the Rouge River on Saturday. 

The organization expects more than 2,000 volunteers to attend this annual event called Rouge Rescue. The goal is to clean up the river and restore the nearby land to improve water quality. 

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Event details can be found at TheRouge.org. There you will find a full list of work sites and project details. 

Volunteers are expected to arrive at most of the work sites about 8 or 9 a.m.

People of all ages are encouraged to join the effort. Much of the work that will take place during Rouge Rescue will happen in parks and nature preserves along the river.

As a result of recent storms, the water level in the river is higher than normal in some areas causing a much faster moving current. Volunteers are encouraged to exercise caution at all times along the river and seek out their site coordinators
for safety tips.

Some of Rouge Rescue work sites are listed here: 

Site: Meadows of Canton in Canton
Location: Lotz Rd. between Palmer and Cherry Hill
Time: 9 a.m. to Noon
Number of volunteers: 100
Site Coordinator: Keshav Raizada, Wayne County Dept. of Public Services
Contact info: kraizada@waynecounty.com

Site: Rouge Park in Detroit
Location: Joy Rd. between Telegraph and Evergreen
Time: 8 a.m. to Noon
Number of volunteers: 200-300
Site Coordinator: Sally Petrella, Friends of Rouge Park & Friends of the Rouge
Contact info: 313.799.FORP

Site: Heritage Park in Farmington Hills
Location: Farmington Road between 10 and 11 Mile roads
Time: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Number of volunteers: 60-70
Site Coordinator: Randy Lovett & Ashlie Smith, City of Farmington Hills
Contact info: 248-231-8469

Site: Smith Elementary School in Plymouth
Location: In the neighborhood north of Ann Arbor Road between Sheldon and Main St.
Time: 8 a.m. to Noon
Number of volunteers: 75
Site Coordinator: Adam Gerlach, City of Plymouth
Contact info: 734-453-7737