City of Cedar Rapids Encourages Shared Stewardship Through Carry In, Carry Out

As Cedar Rapids continues community stewardship efforts following Earth Month, the City of Cedar Rapids is encouraging everyone to help care for clean, enjoyable parks, trails, and park facilities through its Carry In, Carry Out initiative.

The initiative encourages visitors to help care for parks, trails, and park facilities by taking trash with them when leaving public spaces. The effort supports clean, well-maintained parks and trails, sustainability, wildlife protection, and shared responsibility for public spaces across the Cedar Rapids park system. Trash receptacle availability may vary throughout the park system depending on location and use. Receptacles will remain available in select parks, trails, facilities, and high-use areas across the community.

Carry In, Carry Out builds on existing City stewardship efforts, including the City Manager's 1-Bag Challenge and the recently launched Adopt-A-Park initiative, both of which encourage community involvement in helping care for public spaces.

"Cedar Rapids parks, trails, and park facilities are shared community spaces that belong to all of us," said Carrie Mardorf, Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Director. "Carry In, Carry Out encourages a shared responsibility that helps support clean, well-maintained parks and trails, protects natural areas and wildlife, and promotes community pride. This initiative also builds on the strong community stewardship efforts already happening throughout Cedar Rapids."

Carry In, Carry Out aligns with park stewardship approaches already used by Linn County parks, Iowa state parks, and other communities throughout the region.

The initiative also supports ongoing efforts to maintain clean, well-maintained public spaces throughout the community. Research and park management practices have shown that well-maintained public spaces help encourage responsible behavior and reduce additional litter in community spaces.

Community members interested in supporting park stewardship efforts can learn more about the Adopt-A-Park initiative at CityOfCR.com/AdoptAPark. Information about the City Manager's 1-Bag Challenge, including litter collection kit locations, is available at CityOfCR.com/1Bag.

Additional information regarding the Carry In, Carry Out initiative is available at CityOfCR.com/CarryInCarryOut.