Off-road riders are coming together for a second year to participate in a cleanup Saturday at Coal Creek Commerce Center, Saint Clair, in efforts to keep trails beautiful.
"We get looked at as a bunch of hooligans who aren't really contributing anything. We want to turn that image around and let people know there are responsible riders who aren't just up there making trouble," Brian Dasch, an event organizer, said.
The cleanup will take place between 9 a.m. and noon. Lunch will be provided from noon to 1 p.m., followed by an off-road guided tour from 1 to 5 p.m through the Reading Anthracite Co. area, Duncott and Heckscherville. Staging and sign-ins will be from 7:30 to 9 a.m. by Home Depot in Saint Clair.
The cleanup effort was expanded from last year's event to a 2-mile radius, including the Burma Road and the Dark Water area near Wal-Mart, Dasch said. He said that last year's effort only covered the surrounding area of Wal-Mart and behind Home Depot. This year, groups will split up to cover more ground.
"At least six participants from the Schuylkill County Jeep Alliance will be there, more to clean up the Dark Water area," Dasch said.
Dasch said there are 40 to 50 estimated riders helping out this year compared to 22 from last year.
Dasch said the local businesses have been a big help in their efforts. The Reading Anthracite Co. will provide a dumpster for the day of the event to support the participants of this year's cleanup.
"We went to local businesses like last year and looked for sponsorship. Home Depot donated gift cards for gloves for the cleanup, Wal-Mart and Vitos and Dunkin' Donuts donated food for lunch and such," Dasch said.
Though Dasch and Dennis Felty, another event organizer, have coordinated the cleanup, Dasch said it is a combined effort of the off-road community.
"A lot of this effort has been basically out of Dennis' and my pocket and out of the riders' pockets."
The two have been riding for more than 30 years. Their love for off-roading and being residents of Schuylkill County encourages them to make the cleanup an annual event.
"We are there to have fun, but we are also there to look at the scenery. It gets old looking at a bunch of burned out couches," Dasch said. "We want to continue this for as long as possible."
Anyone interested in assisting with the cleanup is welcome. Those interested in riding should bring their own vehicles. There will be a waiver of the $125 yearly permit fee for those without one.
"Whether you own an ATV or off-road vehicle or not - yes, it's done under the guide of the off-road riders cleaning up - but it can be anybody," Dasch said.
