Community Invited to MLK Day of Service River Cleanup and Restoration in Roseburg

ROSEBURG, Ore. — On Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, community members are invited to take part in a hands-on Day of Service focused on caring for local parks and waterways during the annual River Restoration, Cleanup, and Invasive Species Removal event.

The event is organized by Umpqua Watersheds in partnership with the City of Roseburg Parks and Recreation Department and Thrive Umpqua.

Volunteers will gather at the Stewart Park Pavilion at 9:00 a.m. for a welcome, safety briefing, and assignment to work areas. Activities will include removing trash along the river corridor, clearing invasive plant species, and installing informational signage in several city parks.

Work locations include:

• Charles Gardiner Park, where volunteers will remove invasive species and clean up litter
• The Stewart Park to duck pond area, focusing on trash removal along the walking paths
• Eastwood Nature Park, where crews will remove invasive plants and place educational signs

According to Julie Lowe, Director of Environmental Education and Outreach for Umpqua Watersheds, the MLK Day of Service has been a long-running tradition in Roseburg, evolving over more than 15 years. While early efforts focused primarily on river cleanup, recent events have placed greater emphasis on removing invasive plants such as blackberry bramble, English ivy, and hawthorn, which crowd out native species and provide little benefit to local wildlife.

The event is also part of Thrive Umpqua’s Community Well-Being Challenge, a free, community-wide initiative that encourages residents to improve physical health, mental well-being, and community connection through shared activities.

Volunteers will be provided with trash bags, tools, supplies, and instructions. Snacks will be available, but participants are encouraged to bring their own food, water, gloves, sturdy footwear, and weather-appropriate clothing. Families, teams, neighbors, and even leashed dogs are welcome.

Those interested in participating or seeking more information can contact Umpqua Watersheds by email at julie@umpquawatersheds.org or by phone at (541) 672-7065. An interview with Julie Lowe discussing the event also aired on News Radio 93.9 FM and 1240 KQEN.

The Day of Service reflects the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Day by encouraging community action, shared responsibility, and care for local parks and rivers.