20th Annual Canal Clean Sweep
Celebrate Earth Day with a purpose!
Saturday, April 19, 2025
9 AM – Noon at Montezuma Heritage Park High Street Trailhead
Kicking off the celebration this year for Earth Day, on the weekend of – 20, 2025, volunteers will show up ready to do what they can to cleaning up our treasured canalway and canal system. Sponsored by the NYS Canal Corporation, Canal Clean Sweep is an annual statewide event that occurs along New York’s historic canalways and greenways on Earth Day weekend.
As stewards of Montezuma Heritage Park, the Friends Committee of the Old Mentz Heritage Center have proudly dedicated themselves yearly participating in the statewide program to ensure that trails are cleared and open for the public and to preserve the Park’s historic Erie Canal resources. Please join us in helping out. If you can join us on Saturday, April 19th, 9 AM to Noon, please bring working gloves, weather and trail work appropriate clothing and shoes. For more information, contact Cheryl Longyear at 315-776-4656.
Canal Clean Sweep does so much for our greenway system helping prepare the Canalway for the summer recreation season, encouraging exercise for the whole family, fulfilling hours for community service or scouts, and creating an opportunity to meet new people. Year after year, canal communities continue to amaze and inspire with their support and participation… through hours of working together to make a difference.
On April 20, 1820, the packet boat The Montezuma arrived in Syracuse marking the beginning of navigation on the Canal’s 96-mile middle section between Utica and Montezuma. This year is the celebration of the Erie Canal’s entire 363-mile completion across New York State. Plans are being made in communities all along canal system. This is an opportunity to help get the Park ready for the 2025 season as we celebrate the longest artificial waterway and the greatest public works project in North America.