The 30th Anniversary DuPage River Sweep will be held
Saturday, May 15th, 2021
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Volunteer registration for the 2021 Sweep is now CLOSED!
Thanks so much to all who have signed up to volunteer.
If you see people in and along the DuPage River and its tributaries on Saturday,
give them a honk of encouragement!
They are carrying on a 30-year tradition of coming together to clean up our rivers and streams.
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The annual DuPage County River Sweep is a county-wide self-coordinated stream cleanup held each spring. The purpose of the one-day river sweep is to encourage volunteer groups to help “sweep our rivers clean” by picking up debris in and along the local waterways. Over the past 30 years that this event has taken place, more than 9,000 volunteers have removed nearly 300 tons of garbage from DuPage County streams. The first River Sweep was held in 1991!
We will be practicing social distancing and following all recommended CDC guidelines to keep everyone safe and healthy. Our Sweep volunteers make a difference right here and right now.
How It Works
Community Liaisons and groups select a section of stream and through their own coordination go out and remove litter from the area. Streambank restoration activities, such as removing invasive species and planting native species are available in some areas for those who prefer to keep their feet dry (see below). Supplies and technical support are provided by organizations sponsoring the Sweep to help you coordinate your efforts.
To Register
To learn more about being a Community Liaison or Group Coordinator, read our Group Coordinator’s Manual. Help us expand the Sweep to more locations by volunteering to be a Community Liaison or Group Coordinator in an area not listed below. Contact Jan Roehll for how to get started – It’s simple!
Individual volunteers may request being assigned to a group or may work independently in an area of their choosing. Community Liaisons are available to assist individual volunteers the day of the Sweep as well. To learn more read our Group Coordinator’s manual highlighted above. To get started, view this year’s Sweep Flyer.
Pre-registration is required and registration is now closed. We hope you will join us in 2022!
The following towns have Liaison Contacts for you:
Addison |
Ron Remus |
[email protected] |
630-620-2020 |
Bloomingdale |
Joe Potts |
[email protected] |
630-339-3570 |
Bolingbrook |
Daniel Flinn |
[email protected] |
630-783-6570 |
Carol Stream |
Greg Ulreich |
[email protected] |
630-871-6220 |
Downers Grove |
Kerry Behr |
[email protected] |
630-434-5489 |
Glen Ellyn |
Renae Frigo |
[email protected] |
630-858-6037, Ext. 6006 |
Hanover Park |
T.J. Moore |
[email protected] |
630-823-7500 |
Itasca |
Mike Subers |
[email protected] |
630-773-2455 |
Lisle |
Molly Garrow |
[email protected] |
630-271-4107 |
Lombard |
Dave Gorman |
[email protected] |
630-620-5765 |
Naperville |
Jan Roehll |
[email protected] |
630-428-4500 Ext. 121 |
Oak Brook |
Bonnie Gibellina |
[email protected] |
630-645-9544 |
Oakbrook Terrace |
Craig Ward |
[email protected] |
630-941-1651 |
Plainfield |
Jonathan Proulx |
[email protected] |
815-609-6139 |
Villa Park |
Robert Wagner |
[email protected] |
630-279-3499 |
Warrenville |
Ray Ziemer |
[email protected] |
630-836-0086 |
West Chicago Park District |
Mike Gasparini |
[email protected] |
630-231-9474 |
Westmont |
Jon Yeater |
[email protected] |
630-981-6285 |
Wheaton |
Rob Sperl |
[email protected] |
630-510-4970 |
Winfield |
Gary Bernard |
[email protected] |
630-462-6074 |
Wood Dale |
Steve Krych |
[email protected] |
630-400-0926 |
All other areas |
Jan Roehll |
[email protected] |
630-428-4500 Ext. 121 |
Restoration Sites
If picking up trash isn’t your bag, help communities by restoring natural areas near waterways.
Please indicate this preference on your registration. Adult supervision is requested for volunteers under Age 18.
Participating restoration locations include:
Hitchcock Woods Forest Preserve – Lisle
Hidden Oaks Conservation Area – Bolingbrook (park at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm)
Village of Westmont – Various Locations
Promote the Sweep In Your Community
Share this flyer widely to help spread the word in your community!
DuPage River Sweep 2021 Flyer
Share this webpage URL: theconservationfoundation.org/sweep
Watercraft Training & Rental
Having fun on the water is a priority and learning to do so safely is paramount. Here are some suggested resources for canoe/kayak training from some of our seasoned volunteers:
Looking for a way to sweep the river while maneuvering a canoe? Here are two sources for rentals:
REI – Oakbrook Terrace
Geneva Kayak Center.
Sponsors & Partners
River Sweep supplies and technical support are generously provided by these sponsoring organizations and partners:
The following municipalities issued proclamations supporting the annual DuPage River Sweep:
Village of Bloomingdale
Village of Itasca
Village of Lisle
Village of Lombard
Village of Roselle
City of Warrenville
City of Wheaton
Village of Willowbrook
York Township
