Lexington Creek Sweep
Lexington Creek Sweep is an opportunity to protect our local creeks through neighborhood, backyard and park litter cleanups. Rain washes litter into storm drains that lead straight to local creeks. That means clean communities lead to clean creeks! Creek Sweep is a great opportunity to make a difference by picking up litter.
Free Creek Sweep kits are packaged in car litter bags and contain trash bags and disposable gloves for individual or family litter cleanups. If you would like kits for your litter cleanup, email LiveGreen@lexingtonky.gov. Creek Sweep kits are also available periodically at parks and partner locations.
Large group cleanups should go through the Great American Cleanup program, managed by Keep Lexington Beautiful.
Cleanup tips
Cleaning up litter anywhere, not just near a creek, helps improve water quality. If it's on the ground, it's in our water! If you don't have a creek nearby in a backyard or a park, you can pick up litter along the sidewalk, in a park or in neighborhood greenspaces. Do not go onto private property without the permission of the property owner.
- Wear gloves when picking up litter.
- Be mindful of traffic and do not walk in roadways.
- Keep your distance from others not in your household.
- Watch over young children, especially near roads and creeks.
- Do not pick up sharp or hazardous objects.
- After your cleanup, dispose of trash bags and gloves in trash cans.
- Fill out your post cleanup survey to get a prize for every person who helped!
Looking for a creek to explore during your cleanup?
- Wolf Run Watershed: Gardenside Park, Valley Park
- Town Branch Watershed: McConnell Springs
- Cane Run Watershed: Legacy Trail, Kentucky Horse Park
- East Hickman Watershed: Jacobson Park
- West Hickman Watershed: Veterans Park, Belleau Woods Park
- North Elkhorn Watershed: Hisle Farm Park
What is my watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that drains to the same creek, river or ocean. In Lexington, we have seven urban and two rural watersheds.
Several of Lexington's watersheds have volunteer groups. You're welcome to contact any group, whether you live, work or just have an interest in that watershed.