Love the Gateway Arch?  Then join in an upcoming effort to clean up its “front yard.”  On Saturday September 24, join in a fun trash pick-up event to tidy up the St. Louis riverfront.  And also enjoy special programs on the Arch grounds.

September 24^th is National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort.  National parks around the country will host outdoor events for hundreds of thousands of volunteers who will help restore, preserve, and clean up their beloved public lands.  In St. Louis, Gateway Arch National Park, Gateway Arch Park Foundation, Beyond Plastics, and Living Lands & Waters are organizing a community trash pick-up event to help tidy up the downtown riverfront. It’s part of a nationwide effort to connect people with the outdoor recreation spaces in their area.

Riverfront cleanups will occur from 9:00-11:00 and from 11:00-1:00. All volunteers will receive materials they’ll need during the cleanup and will be entered to win a drawing for prizes. Sign up here to volunteer.

Don’t miss out on other fun happenings in the park that day.  How about a free yoga class underneath the Arch at 9:30 a.m.? Gateway Arch Park Foundation sponsors this Just Breathe Yoga session offered by The Collective STL.  Go here to register.

In the afternoon, you and your favorite pooch can join in a dog walk led by four-legged B.A.R.K. Superintendents (dog ambassadors) as part of the day’s B.A.R.K. Ranger activities.  Learn how your pup can become an official NPS B.A.R.K. Ranger by visiting the table from 2-5 p.m. on the Arch grounds.

Or if butterflies are more your thing, attend the MonArch Migration event to learn about butterfly flight patterns and native plants.  This annual National Park Service program celebrates the Monarch butterfly’s spectacular north-south migrations, and features information on which native plants can help these winged friends.  The event takes place from 1-4 p.m. in the Explorer’s Garden on the north end of the Arch grounds. 

Gateway Arch is proud to host these fun events, says Pam Sanfilippo, the park’s Program Manager for Museum Services and Interpretation.  “The Arch grounds are a place for everyone to enjoy – whether it’s to practice yoga, see butterflies migrating, or play fetch with your four-legged best friend.  Join us on National Public Lands Day to experience firsthand the incredible spaces here at the park.”