___Why would 1,200 people set aside a lovely Saturday morning cleaning debris at 25 different shorelines throughout Tampa? Who would be willing to remove invasive plants and trash in the sun? Your fellow Tampa citizens, that's who!
___After spending the morning cleaning up an estimated 10 tons of litter and debris, the 17th Annual Mayor's Hillsborough River & Waterways Cleanup volunteers gathered at Lowry Park to work and have a little fun. The cleanup, part of the Mayor's Beautification Program, was sponsored by over two dozen business and associations who provided not only funding, but entertainment and refreshments. The Program, founded in 1989, is in fact not a governmental organization. It's a non-profit community service dedicated to one thing: Restoring the beauty of Tampa's outdoor environments.
___During the festivities, 20 teams of area youths competed in various classic outdoor activities for the coveted trophy and mascot "Reggie The River Rat".
The large stage in Lowry Park was adequately utilized by Bobby & The Rockets, who delighted the crowd with a twist to a Lynard Skynard classic, renamed "Sweet Home, Tampa Bay".
___Great food was provided by the culinary students at Sickles High School, offering barbecue and a desserts.
___Among the myriad of booths at the event were representatives of the Tampa Parks and Recreation Planning and Design Division. Mary Helen Duke, the Greenways and Trails Coordinator, told us they were there to get a message out about the Greenways System, and plans to build trails around McKay Bay.
___"We trying to link parts of the city with 125 miles of trails" she explained. Their goal is to have the system completed by 2015.
___The many people who walked around the park traveled from booth to booth, sat and ate food, enjoyed the music and chatted with friends and strangers. The mood was spirited and friendly, as is usually the case when you gather a diverse group of people drawn together for the good of a community. One booth which always had a large crowd and plenty of eager photographers, was GREAT, INC., the Greyhound Rescue & Adoptions of Tampa Bay. Volunteers there were eager to show the public how mild and easy-going the rescued racers really are.
___The Mayor's Beautification Program is asking for your help. If you cannot volunteer as an individual participant or corporate sponsor, they ask that you do one thing: be a responsible steward of our natural resources by keeping the environment clean and beautiful for future generations.
___For more information the the Program's yearly activities, and how you can help, visit www.mbptree.org, or call (813) 221-8733.

-K. Tanaka. "I love Tampa and am always looking for the next great lead to a positive story about our area." To contact him, email info@questcityguide.com.