One of the crown jewels of Temple Terrace just received a major clean-up, and it was all thanks to the kindness of the community.
Between the serene Spanish moss, beautiful boardwalk, and wandering wildlife, Riverhills Park in Temple Terrace has just about everything.
- Community groups join to pick up trash at Riverhills Park
- Some in kayaks cleaned clutter from Hillsborough River
- Park's rich history dates to 1700's
"It's the gem of Temple Terrace, it really is," said Kathi Armstrong, a Temple Terrace Rotary Club member. "The park has been here a long time."
But one thing that doesn't belong in the beloved park is piles and piles of trash.
"It makes me really sad that people don't take better care of our resources," Armstrong said.
On Saturday, members of the Rotary Club and other community groups got their hands dirty for a good cause. With garbage bags in hand, neighbors scoured the park picking up trash. They even grabbed kayaks and cleaned up clutter in the Hillsborough River.
"It affects the birds and the fish and the alligators, and it's not a pleasant thing to look at when you're out here having a picnic and enjoying the outdoors,” Rotary Club President Rich Downs said.
The clean-up effort was also to help preserve some of the park's rich history that dates all the way back to the 1700s.
Signs at Riverhills Park state that a captain of the Spanish Royal Fleet and members of his expedition camped in the area while exploring the Hillsborough River. It is still visited by countless families, and volunteers who helped clean up on Saturday said they hope it stays that way so Riverhills Park can be enjoyed for many generations.
"It belongs to all of us so we all have a responsibility to keep it clean and pristine so we can pass it on to our children and grandchildren," Armstrong said.