With every strong rainfall in Kansas City comes a return of a pesky problem – trash in the flowing water getting caught in the trees and waterbed along Brush Creek.
Louis Cummings with Kansas City's Parks & Recreation Department said crews monitor the creek for trash about three times a week, with a 3-5 member crew cleaning up along the 5-mile stretch daily.
In certain hotspots, including the areas near Cleveland Avenue and Euclid Avenue, removing trees and brush is the only short-term option to keep the eyesores from forming, and Cummings tries to avoid doing so if possible.
Cummings said the city is exploring longer-term solutions such as improvements funded by the GO Bond on April's ballot that may include dredging.
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Kansas City resident Craig Smith created a PSA last year urging the city to address the Brush Creek trash problem. He believes the city can do more.
"We find a way to make our city cleaner or make or city more efficient, or tech savvy, when it’s a priority. When there are dollars on the line, when there are peoples influences on the line and legacies on the line, we find a way to make things clean and nice and manicured well, however in certain parts of the city it doesn't appear to be more of a priority," said Smith.
Cummings invites anyone wanting to help to volunteer with Parks & Rec.
"This is a neighborhood thing, a city thing, a people thing: people who care about the environment and care about the city as a whole," said Cummings.
Kansas City Parks & Rec can be reached at 816-513-7500
Residents who see a trash problem are urged to call 311.
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Brian Abel can be reached at brian.abel@kshb.com.
