The trails, bridges, and waters around Glade Run Lake looked a little brighter this weekend, thanks to the efforts of Scouts, community volunteers, local businesses, and members of the Glade Run Lake Conservancy.
Among the day’s sponsors was Stick City Brewing of Mars, whose owners, Nick and Ron Salkeld, worked side by side with volunteer Doug Wolf, and board member T. Lyle Ferderber replace rotting planks on several small wooden bridges along the walking paths. Their work ensured the trails would remain safe and accessible for hikers and families who frequent the park.
Dozens of others also gathered for the lake’s annual cleanup day, including Scouting America Troop 400 of Mars, township leaders, and families who enjoy the lake year-round. Armed with gloves, trimmers, kayaks, and even a solar-powered generator, volunteers tackled everything from trail overgrowth to fishing line hazards.
Scouts Lead by Example
Jessica Beasley, who helped organize Troop 400’s participation, said the boys were excited to contribute.
“They are here to do some conservation cleanup service for the lake,” she explained. “They’re also going to be installing a bat house that was built when the boys earned their Mammal Study Merit Badge. In scouting we always try to instill a sense of community and a sense of wanting to do better for the environment, make our world a cleaner, safer place for people and animals alike.”
For Scout Liam Duff, the work connected directly to his Eagle Scout journey. “We are clearing off the paths of all the overgrowth and moss on the bridges,” he said. “This helps us because it’s conservation and we need that for Eagle Scout. But it’s also just nice to help out with the community around us.”
Conservancy’s Ongoing Effort
Glade Run Lake Conservancy leaders, who have been hosting cleanup days since the lake was restored in 2011, said the work is critical to protecting wildlife and keeping trails accessible.
Vice President Peter Walker outlined the day’s projects: “We’ve got kayaks out on the lake looking for fishing line, because if animals get in those, it can kill them. We’ve got people bushwhacking the trails with weed whackers and hedge trimmers, all powered by our solar panel generator. And the Boy Scouts are putting up bat boxes.”
Board member Suzy Salter added that the event is as much about community as it is about conservation. “We have some boards we need to replace on the wooden walkways, a lot of trail maintenance, and kayakers going out to get tangled lines,” she said. “We’re real happy that Stick City Brewery and Public Lands are bringing crews to help today.”
Families Pitch In — and Learn Something New
Many local families also took part, including Middlesex Township resident Jessica Pierce, who brought her young daughters. “Today I’m helping with a volunteer day to make the lake a little bit better for everybody,” she said. “This is the first place Cora has gone fishing, so she loves to come and try her fishing rod.”
Pierce also used the opportunity to point out an environmental challenge to the scouts. Along one of the paths, she identified a patch of Japanese Stiltgrass, an invasive annual grass native to Asia. Introduced to the United States in the early 20th century as packing material, stiltgrass now spreads in forests and floodplains, including places like Glade Run Lake, where it crowds out native vegetation. Her lesson underscored how clean-up days are not only about removing trash but also about teaching the next generation to recognize threats to local ecosystems.
A Shared Resource
For Walker, who visits the lake daily with his dog, the reason for giving back is simple. “It’s just such a beautiful place. And we’ve got to keep it that way. It’s a great resource for the community.”
