\n\t\t\t\t\t\tVolunteers and local organizations came together Thursday morning to clean Lake Elizabeth on Pittsburgh’s North Side, as a part of the “What the Muck” event.For the last 13 years, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and other local groups have organized the event to clean the lake before the summer season. “We have over a thousand trees in Allegheny Commons. So that’s a lot of leaf litter that falls into the bottom of the lake, as long as we have leftovers from the geese and of other animals. So it settles at the bottom of the lake. And if we don’t clean it up every year, it creates algae blooms throughout the warmer season. And then the lake is not in a very nice shape for the residents to use when they are here in the park,” Erin Tobin, assistant director of community engagement for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, said. With help from Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works, volunteers began filling buckets to remove debris from the lake. Tobin said they hope to finish the cleanup within two days, but they are prepared to return if needed. “The city of Pittsburgh does incredible job, but I don’t think anybody realizes how much effort it takes to keep these green spaces looking the way that they do,” Tobin said. Volunteers believe events like Thursday’s allow folks not only to give back but to take pride in their community.”It’s really showing up, showing up in the community, showing that every little bit helps when you’re talking about making our community a better place for everybody and pitching in,” said Sarah Olexsak, a volunteer through Duquesne Light.If you would like to learn more about the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, click here.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tPITTSBURGH \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Volunteers and local organizations came together Thursday morning to clean Lake Elizabeth on Pittsburgh’s North Side, as a part of the “What the Muck” event.<\/p>\n
For the last 13 years, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and other local groups have organized the event to clean the lake before the summer season. <\/p>\n
“We have over a thousand trees in Allegheny Commons. So that’s a lot of leaf litter that falls into the bottom of the lake, as long as we have leftovers from the geese and of other animals. So it settles at the bottom of the lake. And if we don’t clean it up every year, it creates algae blooms throughout the warmer season. And then the lake is not in a very nice shape for the residents to use when they are here in the park,” Erin Tobin, assistant director of community engagement for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, said. <\/p>\n
With help from Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works, volunteers began filling buckets to remove debris from the lake. <\/p>\n
Tobin said they hope to finish the cleanup within two days, but they are prepared to return if needed. <\/p>\n
“The city of Pittsburgh does incredible job, but I don’t think anybody realizes how much effort it takes to keep these green spaces looking the way that they do,” Tobin said. <\/p>\n
Volunteers believe events like Thursday’s allow folks not only to give back but to take pride in their community.<\/p>\n
“It’s really showing up, showing up in the community, showing that every little bit helps when you’re talking about making our community a better place for everybody and pitching in,” said Sarah Olexsak, a volunteer through Duquesne Light.<\/p>\n