Nominate a local park for free waste cleanup. We bring the gear, absorb the cost, and leave it cleaner than we found it.
Community First
Illinois parks along Lake Michigan deal with a seasonal Canada goose problem driven by the state's resident goose population. Wildlife Illinois and University of Illinois Extension figures put the Chicago-metro resident population at roughly 100,000 birds, and fifty geese alone produce about 2.5 tons of droppings a year. That is why Lake County and Cook County park districts periodically close swimming areas when fecal coliform readings spike.
Add dog waste on top of that and the local park stops being a place you want to walk through. The Free Park Cleanup Program is our way of helping. A few times a month we pick a nominated park and clean it up at no charge. No grant application. No fundraiser. Just us, our gear, and a cleaner park for your neighborhood.
The program started with a single afternoon at a local Glenview park after a July goose cleanup bulletin went unanswered for weeks. What began as one volunteer shift is now a standing offer to any North Shore park district or community group that needs the help.
Know a park that needs attention? Nominate it below. We will follow up once it is on the calendar.
How It Works
Fill out the form below with the park name, location, and a quick description of what is going on. Photos help but are not required.
Nominations are reviewed on a rolling basis. We reach out to confirm a cleanup date. The target window is 4 to 6 weeks from submission.
No cost. No catch. We clean the park area, haul the waste off-site, and leave it better than we found it. Confirmation goes out when it is done.
Nomination Form
Tell us about the park and why it needs attention. We follow up within a few business days to confirm receipt and tell you when it is scheduled.
Common Questions
Yes. No donation required, no hidden fees, no obligation to sign up for anything else. We do this because clean parks are good for the community, and we want to be a neighbor worth having.
Public parks, community green spaces, neighborhood pocket parks, and walking paths. Dog parks are especially welcome. Coverage area is the North Shore: Glenview, Northbrook, Winnetka, Wilmette, Evanston, and the surrounding suburbs.
That is fine. We have seen it all. If the situation needs multiple visits to handle fully, we will let you know and work out a plan. This program exists for parks that genuinely need the help.
Rolling schedule, usually within 4 to 6 weeks. High-need parks may be moved up. We contact you to confirm the date once it is on the calendar.
Yes. If a park we cleaned is backsliding, submit a new nomination and we will evaluate it again.