Blacks Run Clean Up Day

Annual Blacks Run Clean Up Day and Arbor Day Tree Planting

Get a group together, or your family, or just yourself, and join us on April 15, 2023, for the Annual Blacks Run Clean Up Day and Arbor Day Tree Planting event.

Day of Event Details:

Beginning at 9:00am - Visit the Green Scene, in the grassy lot beside Turner Pavilion, to gather your Cleanup Day materials, and enjoy visiting booths with environmental experts from around the area. You will be given a Green Scene Passport upon arrival. Check off all Green Scene Passport locations and enter your Passport in a Raffle for a prize! The Green Scene Passport winner will be announced at the Pizza Party at lunchtime.

The prizes don't stop there! After visiting the Green Scene, you will journey to your cleanup location. During your cleanup, participate in our Social Media Photo Contest! There will be a prize for individuals who photograph the following:

• Most Enthusiastic Group
• Largest Item
• Largest Group
• Weirdest Object

To participate in the Social Media Photo Contest, you may do one of the following:

• Tag @harrisonburgpublicworks on Facebook
• Tag @hbgpublicworks on Instagram
• Use the hashtag #BRCD2023 on your Facebook or Instagram post

11:30am - 1pm Pizza Party

After you have completed your cleanup, join us back at the Green Scene for the lunchtime Pizza Party. All registered participants will receive free pizza! Turn in your Green Scene Passport for a chance to win a Raffle prize!

After Blacks Run Cleanup Event 

Receive a special participant voucher at the Green Scene, visit with participating Downtown Breweries/Cideries during open hours on Cleanup Day, and receive discounted brews and other exciting Blacks Run Cleanup Day specials. Specials so far include:

• Pale Fire Brewing Company Discounted Brew
• 3 Notch'd Brewing Company Discounted Brew
• Brothers Craft Brewing Discounted Brew & try out the release of their Blacks Run Cleanup Day special brew! More details coming soon!
• Sage Bird Ciderworks Discounted Brew and Special After-Event Social. Participate on the Sage Bird Cleanup Team and receive additional discounts and giveaways during their Social! To participate on the Sage Bird team, contact info@sagebirdciderworks.com. Sage Bird will also be hosting their Trivia Night on Thursday, April 13 that will feature various Blacks Run trivia questions! Attend to test your knowledge and learn more about environmentally friendly initiatives and Blacks Run in a fun way! Visit Sage Bird's social media and website for additional details. 
• Other participating location details coming soon!

To register to participate in the 2023 Blacks Run Cleanup Day event, visit http://arcg.is/1PKWzz0 

Can't make it on April 15?  Blacks Run always needs some TLC. Get a small group together and schedule a day for your volunteers to clean up a section of Blacks Run.

Blacks Run Clean Up Day Stats

Stream Clean Up Dashboard   

2015: 450 volunteers, 4.1 tons of refuse

2016: 500 volunteers, 2.5 tons of refuse

2017: 516 volunteers, 3.24 tons of refuse

2018: 600 volunteers, 4.12 tons of refuse

2019: 700 volunteers, 3.8 tons of refuse (and 25 tires)

2020: Cancelled

2021: 200 volunteers, 2.5 tons of refuse (hair salon hairdryer and 13 tires)

2022: 278 volunteers, 2 tons of refuse (and 8 tires) 

Interested in being a sponsor, displaying at the Green Scene, or have general or registration questions?  

Contact Wes Runion, Environmental Specialist, at Wesley.Runion@HarrisonburgVA.gov or 540-434-5928. 

All volunteers need to complete and return the Liability and Photo Release Statement  [114KB] prior to the event on April 15, 2023.

Parental or Guardian Liability & Photo Release form [104KB]

If you or your organization are interested in participating in a clean up at any other point during the year, please contact Public Works at Stormwater@HarrisonburgVA.gov or 540-434-5928