Since 2000, the Manchester Urban Ponds Restoration Program (Program) has coordinated 124 volunteer cleanups at Manchester's urban ponds. Other groups have coordinated 15 additional cleanups at the urban ponds / or have been assisted by the Program in doing so. Thus, a total of 139 volunteer cleanups have occurred at Manchester's urban ponds.
Over the past 26 seasons of cleanups, 1,497 volunteers have spent approximately 4,529 hours collecting 3,091 bags of trash! This does not include the items illegally “dumped” such as shopping carts (118), tires (469), car batteries, other car parts, construction debris, and other items. In addition, the value of volunteer time spent at these clean-ups has amounted to over $110,931 over these past 26 seasons!
Spring 2026 Pond & Park Cleanups
Saturday April 18, 2026 9:00 am - 11:00 am - Nutts Pond / Precourt Park
Please meet at the informational kiosk in the parking lot at Precourt Park (Driving Park Road off South Willow Street behind Wendy's and Ashley Furniture).
Saturday April 25, 2026 09:00 am - 11:00 am - Black Brook / Blodget Park
Please meet in the Blodget Park parking lot (Front Street & Dunbarton Road just to the south of Seasons Tickets)
Saturday May 2, 2026 09:00 am - 11:00 am - Either Stevens Pond / Park OR McQuesten Brook / Wolfe Park (TBD - A location will be confirmed and advertised in April 2026)
Stevens Pond - Please meet at the boat ramp on Bridge Street Extension
McQuesten Brook - Please meet at the kiosk in the parking lot at Wolfe Park on Harvell Street (east of South Main Street and north of Second Street behind Dairy Queen).
Please meet at the designated locations no later than 8:50 am to sign in, grab a snack, and hear welcoming remarks and instructions as cleanups will begin promptly at 9:00 am. Trash bags, latex gloves, and limited trash grabbers will be provided. Just bring yourself, a friend, and a sense of community spirit! Please dress appropriately for weather as these cleanups are held rain or shine and wear rubber boots if you can. As always, prizes will be awarded for "The Most Interesting or Unusual Piece of Trash" so come join in on the fun!
Thank you to all volunteers who helped out over the years!