IN LEHIGH ACRES. I’M TO TALK US ALL FOR GOLD COAST NEWS. >> FROM YOUR CAPE CORAL NEWS TEAM EARLIER TODAY, VOLUNTEERS CAME TOGETHER TO HELP PROTECT LOCAL WILDLIFE AND CLEAN UP SOME OF OUR GULF COAST WATERWAYS. TODAY WAS THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP AT 4 MILE COVE ECOLOGICAL PRESERVE TODAY’S EVENT RAN FROM 08:00AM TO 11:00AM, WITH A SELLOUT CROWD. ORGANIZERS SAY EVERY SINGLE BAG OF TRASH COLLECTED HELPS KEEP OUR WATER IS CLEAN AND CREATES A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR BOTH PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. ONE THING THAT I REALLY ENJOY IS TO SEE A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER AND IT STARTS INDIVIDUALLY. I MEAN, IF IF YOU OR DID WALK YOUR DOG OR GO FOR A WALK OR EVEN A JOG. >> AND IF YOU BRING WITH YOU A SMALL BAG TO PICK UP TRASH, THAT’S ONLY GOING MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER BY HAVING LESS TRASH IN THERE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT. >> GARY PHILLIPS, AS THE WALL. A LOT OF THE TRASH THEY CLEAN UP ENDS UP IN THE WATER BY ACCIDENT. THEY’RE FINDING MORE STUFF THAT’S BEEN THROWN THERE INTENTIONALLY, INCLUDING VAPES A CIGARETTE BUTTS
Cape Coral volunteers gather to participate in the Great American Cleanup
Updated: 6:37 PM EDT Apr 4, 2026
On Saturday morning, volunteers came together to help protect local wildlife and clean up some of Cape Coral’s Gulf Coast waterways during the Great American Cleanup at Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve.The event ran from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a sold out crowd. Organizers said every single bag of trash collected helps keep the waters clean and creates a safer environment for both people and animals.”One thing that I really enjoy is to see a community effort to make the community better. And it starts individually. I mean, if you were to walk your dog or go for a walk or even a jog, and if you bring with you a small bag to pick up trash, that’s only going to make the community better by having less trash in our environment,” said Harry Phillips, an environmental biologist in Cape Coral.Phillips said that while a lot of the trash they clean up ends up in the water by accident, they are finding more items that have been thrown there intentionally, such as vapes, cigarette butts, and water bottles. He urged people to make sure their trash goes in the right place.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
On Saturday morning, volunteers came together to help protect local wildlife and clean up some of Cape Coral’s Gulf Coast waterways during the Great American Cleanup at Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve.
The event ran from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a sold out crowd. Organizers said every single bag of trash collected helps keep the waters clean and creates a safer environment for both people and animals.
“One thing that I really enjoy is to see a community effort to make the community better. And it starts individually. I mean, if you were to walk your dog or go for a walk or even a jog, and if you bring with you a small bag to pick up trash, that’s only going to make the community better by having less trash in our environment,” said Harry Phillips, an environmental biologist in Cape Coral.
Phillips said that while a lot of the trash they clean up ends up in the water by accident, they are finding more items that have been thrown there intentionally, such as vapes, cigarette butts, and water bottles. He urged people to make sure their trash goes in the right place.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.