Keeping Pleasant Run....Pleasant

By Kelli Mirgeaux

The Pleasant Run Greenway Trail, with its vast reach and connectivity to several community parks, is a southeast staple for residents to enjoy biking, walking, running, rollerblading and simply interacting with nature. However, unwelcome trash along the trail and in the stream and as well as an overgrowth of invasive plants limit the trail experience for pedestrians. As an extension of public space beautification efforts in the area, SEND formed a committee that solely focuses on Pleasant Run. The committee has several goals in place:
· Organize regular volunteer days to beautify the greenway
· Coordinate with IndyParks and City Maintenance
· Raise awareness of the greenway trail amenity and issues related to pollution of the stream
· Promote trail improvements during the re-purposing of the Citizen’s Gas Coke Plant and advocate for a connection with the Cultural Trail

Since the committee’s inception in 2007 there have been an average of 3 clean-ups per year, hundreds of trees and shrubs planted in the greenway and massive invasive plant removal efforts. In its most recent accomplishment, over 50 people from SEND, neighborhood residents, Indy Parks, and Community Courts worked together to clean up trash and plant of trees on March 20th. The next volunteer effort will be part of the White River Clean-Up on May 1. If you would like to get involved in the committee, it meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at noon in SEND offices. As always lunch is provided.