Picture This: Volunteers Made Feb. 25 Scenic Drive Cleanup a Success

Courtesy GPPA-Friends of the Scenic DrivedRoa
Photographs Courtesy of Peter Cherry and Cindy Leeo

"Divine Desert Drive" by Chad Weaver, Carefree - Winner Scenic Drive Category, 2015 Summer Fun Photo Contest

“Divine Desert Drive” by Chad Weaver, Carefree – Winner Scenic Drive Category, 2015 Summer Fun Photo Contest

Volunteers “Brave” Elements for Landmark and Environment

 Thank you. In fact, everybody who drives, bikes, jogs, walks or otherwise uses the northern-most reaches of Scottsdale Road thanks you.

Let’s face it, most of us have been spoiled by blue skies and warmth. It takes an extra measure of community pride to “hit the road” and pick up litter on a chilly, Saturday morning, following two dark, dismal days of rainy weather. Yet, that is exactly what 15 GPPA-Friends of the Scenic Drive volunteers did on Saturday, February 25th. Below are photographs of some of the hearty souls who pitched in.

 The turnout was lower than usual but the amount of roadside litter was also less than we normally encounter. As a result, almost all the roadside litter was cleared from Happy Valley Road to Carefree Highway, a distance of 6 1/2 miles, which equates to 13 miles of roadside.

 Special thanks to volunteers Peter Cherry and Cindy Lee. Cindy and Peter took the photographs in this article of the volunteers who participated in the cleanup. Plus, they are developing a short video to help us promote future Scottsdale Scenic Drive cleanups.  

Rockafellow (left) and Jan Nyland, Courtesy Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry.

Volunteers Patty Rockafellow (left) and Jan Nyland. Courtesy Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry.

At 10 a.m., following the cleanup, volunteers had the option of “staying late” to participate in three drawings for free tickets to the Cave Creek Museum and AMC movie theaters. The winners were Jan Nyland, Trish Brown, and David Curtice. Gathering for the drawing was enjoyable, as volunteers swapped tales of the roadside treasures that they had discovered.

We will have even more drawings and prizes at the next cleanup, which will be held on  April 22.  The weather should be better.

 Residents have been clearing roadside litter since 1963 when the Scenic Drive was established. GPPA-Friends of the Scenic Drive was one of the first organizations to participate in Scottsdale’s Adopt-A-Highway program and has been conducting an annual program of cleanups since 1995.

 Some good news. It appears that we have another volunteer to help us update the roadside plant identification signs. We need a team of about five volunteers to review existing signs and then replace and add signs as needed. If you are interested in helping with this project, Contact Us.

Volunteer "Copper" Phillips. Courtesy Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry.

Volunteer “Copper” Phillips. Courtesy Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry.

 

Volunteer Trish Brown, Courtesy Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry.

Volunteer Trish Brown. Courtesy Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry.

 

 

Volunteer John Rodwick, Courtesy Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry.

Volunteer John Rodwick, Courtesy Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry.

 

Volunteer David Curtice, Courtesy Cindy Lee, Peter Cherry

Volunteer David Curtice. Courtesy Cindy Lee, and Peter Cherry.

 

Volunteers (l-r) Les Conklin, Glen Lenzer, and Don Doherty, Courtesy Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry.

Volunteers (l-r) Les Conklin, Glen Lenzer, and Don Doherty. Courtesy Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry.

 

Hearty Souls Pose at Monument Sign. Courtesy Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry.

 

 

You never know what treasure you will find waiting for your viewing pleasure beside the road. Courtesy John Rodwick.

 Update: Video Produced

North Scottsdale residents, Cindy Lee and Peter Cherry, with the help of other volunteers made this cleanup very special! They produced a short video, which will be used to promote Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive, our organization, and future cleanups.

To watch the video, click on the link below.

GPPA’s Scenic Drive Roadside Cleanup Video

 Related Articles

Get in the Picture, Win Prize at Scenic Drive Cleanup Sat. , Apr. 22

Scenic Drive Information Directory

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Author: Les Conklin

Les Conklin is a resident of north Scottsdale He founded Friends of the Scenic Drive, the Monte de Paz HOA and is the president of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association. He was named to Scottsdale's History Maker Hall of Fame in 2014. Les is a past editor of A Peek at the Peak and the author of Images of America: Pinnacle Peak. He served on the Scottsdale's Pride Commission, McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, the boards of several local nonprofits and was a founding organizer of the city's Adopt-A-Road Program.. Les is a volunteer guide at the Musical Instrument Museum.

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