PRESS RELEASE – August 23, 2021
We Heart Seattle gathered with community members on Saturday, Aug 21st to celebrate the reactivation of MacLean Park and the greenbelt trails located on the east side of Queen Anne. Over the last eight weeks, volunteers have worked tirelessly to clear more than 50,000 pounds of trash, needles and bulky debris from abandoned encampments and illegal dumping in this area. Their work was complicated by the steep terrain and several arson attacks on the bagged trash awaiting pick-up by the City on Aurora Avenue. But perseverance paid off, and close to 40 community members of all ages and even a few lucky dogs joined the celebratory trail walk on Sunday (picking trash along the way, of course!). See the fruits of the We Heart Seattle-led community effort here.
Queen Anne resident and We Heart Seattle Board member Chris Longston joined the community event and commented “Having seen the park and trails before the clean-up, it was amazing to see today what an action-based, boots-on-the-ground community movement can accomplish.” Chris went on to add “Going forward, we need to be vigilant in maintaining the area and continue to press the City for engagement.”
We Heart Seattle welcomes collaboration with anyone and everyone in their effort to make Seattle beautiful and safe for all. To date, the group has organized more than 80 clean-up events across the city and is adding more to their calendar weekly.
Andrea Suarez, Executive Director, We Heart Seattle?
andrea@34.214.149.65
Website:?www.WeHeartSeattle.org
Facebook:?www.facebook.com/groups/weheartseattle
WHS Events:?www.facebook.com/groups/weheartseattle/events