Inland Empire Waterkeeper (Waterkeeper), a nonprofit organization preserving local water quality, has adopted Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park in partnership with the City of Riverside Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department (the City). Waterkeeper is dedicated to stewarding the park to protect the Santa Ana River that flows along its northern edge.
Waterkeeper’s ongoing restoration efforts center around Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park. On the third Saturday of every month, Waterkeeper hosts a volunteer-powered trash cleanup in the park. Participants work together to remove debris from the riverbed and its surroundings before the pollution can enter and harm the river. In its first three monthly cleanups of 2024, Waterkeeper has removed over 1,600 pounds of trash from the park.
“Adopting Martha McLean is a promise to keep it clean, along with the Santa Ana River. We love seeing local community members engage with the river and we hope by adopting the park we can reach even more Inland Empire families,” said Johanna Ramos, program director at Inland Empire Waterkeeper.
Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park is one of several popular recreation sites along the Santa Ana River. Through restoration and numerous other programs, Waterkeeper works to safeguard the Santa Ana River for the Inland Empire community and species that call the river home. This would not be possible without collaboration, such as Waterkeeper’s partnership with the City of Riverside Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department.
The City supports Waterkeeper’s restoration work at Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park through donated supplies and consistent communication. After volunteers remove debris, the City’s Parks Maintenance staff ensures it is safely removed and disposed of off-site. The City also provides trash bags, gloves, and portable restrooms to cleanup participants.
“Today marks a significant milestone for our community. This partnership exemplifies our city’s commitment to nurturing green spaces where families can gather, children can play, and everyone can enjoy the beauty of nature right in the heart of our city. Our collaboration with IE Waterkeeper is just the start to rebuilding our City’s beautiful historical parks,” said Anthony Zamora, deputy director at the City of Riverside Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department.
The adoption of Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park is a testament to Waterkeeper’s and the City’s commitment to public access, community engagement, and equitable recreation. By ensuring that our local parks and river access points are safe and inviting, community members can continue to use these destinations as recreational sites for their families.
Waterkeeper’s next event at Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park is its Earth Day River Cleanup on Saturday, April 20. Interested volunteers can register online at iewaterkeeper.org.
