Published: June 08, 2009 10:10 am      

Cumberland Falls Cleanup

By Adam Sulfridge For The Times-Tribune

April showers bring May cleanups at Cumberland Falls, but dangerously high waters forced the park to reschedule its Beautification Day and riverbank cleanup.

Despite the inconvenience of being postponed, over 100 volunteers turned out early Saturday morning to demonstrate pride in their community.

The annual event, organized by Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in partnership with Congressman Hal Rogers’ PRIDE (Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment) initiative, enjoyed support from several corporate sponsors. Among the volunteers were employees representing Aisin, Firestone, Corbin and London Wal-Mart stores, and the Wal-Mart Distribution Center.

The cleanup began at 9 a.m. when volunteers crossed the metal railing that typically holds back visitors. With trash bags in hand, they crawled across the falls’ boulder strewn gorge, picking up unsightly debris. One volunteer, shocked by the beauty of the falls as experienced while standing closer than tourists are allowed to be, commented that the most rewarding part of the cleanup was simply the view. Volunteers did, however, receive a free lunch and other rewards for their hard work, such as PRIDE T-shirts. A football signed by Tim Couch, a basketball signed by Jeff Shepherd, and other items were given away at random to lucky volunteers using special tickets given to each upon registration.

Though there wasn’t an award for oddest or most exciting find, notable discoveries include an array of basketballs, an eerie baby doll’s head and live river rats which demonstrated their disapproval of so many humans meddling with their homes. Plastic water and soda bottles, however, overwhelmingly constituted the majority of trash collected.

Frankie Ball, who has been active in Williamsburg’s effort to revitalize its recycling program with help from Cedaridge Ministries, expressed disappointment in the willingness of so many to simply trash such recyclable materials, and PRIDE coordinator Mark Davis was upset that, with the exception of a few tires and one air-conditioning unit, the trash collected was mainly litter.

“A lot of people believe [the trash] is thrown over the edge here at the park, but it really is thrown out along our roadsides and washes down the creeks and river during heavy rains. It ends up here below the falls, stuck in piles of driftwood.” added Davis.

To combat litter along Whitley County’s roads, perhaps before it finds its way to one of Kentucky’s most notable tourist destinations, the Whitley County Fiscal Court implemented a county-wide Litter Abatement program. In its first year, the initiative was responsible for cleaning 400 miles of roadway and disposed of over thirteen thousand bags of trash.

“We are blessed with a wealth of natural beauty in our community,” Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White, Jr. said, referring to the program, now in its second year. “It is important that our children see us take pride in it and come together to make a difference.”

Last year, the tourism and travel industry was estimated to add $80 million to Whitley County’s economy. The region’s attractions, however, rely heavily on the natural beauty of its landscape, but as Congressman Rogers often reminds constituents: our trash is not unique; people will not pay to see our trash.

Tourists visiting the park this Saturday, however, were delighted to see the trash after it had been collected. A large group of visitors began clapping and thanking volunteers as they walked past the large pile of garbage waiting to be hauled off, and even a few non-locals participated in the cleanup. Vicki Holmes, who has been traveling the nation and living in the back of her van since December 26, 2006 said, “I’d be helping out like this back at home, so why not here? It’s a beautiful place.”

Cumberland Falls cleanups have taken place since the 1980s. If you missed out on this year’s cleanup, wait for next year’s April showers to end and begin checking the park’s Web site for updates.