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Mill Creek Greenway Cleanup

Join the Cumberland River Compact and Metro Animal Care and Control for a litter cleanup along the Mill Creek Greenway in South Nashville! At this event, volunteers will:
- Pick up litter along the greenway and on the banks of Mill Creek, led by experienced Cumberland River Compact staff
- Meet adoptable dogs from Metro Animal Care and Control
- Clean and improve the habitat of the elusive Nashville crayfish (faxonius shoupi), a species of crayfish found only in the Mill Creek basin in Nashville!
- Attempt to beat last year’s cleanup record! In June 2025, vols removed 971 pounds of trash from this location. Let’s hit 1,000 this year!
Mill Creek is a tributary of the Cumberland River, and the litter it accumulates affects the Cumberland River basin at large. Your participation in this cleanup is part of a larger effort to preserve the health and beauty of Nashville’s waterways for future generations.
Meet-up and Parking: Park in the small lot at the Ezell Road Park greenway trailhead or street park on Old Ezell Road. Meet at the greenway trailhead. Copy and paste the following coordinates into your GPS as the best way to find us: 36.09085032018168, -86.68607747575719
What to Bring & Wear:
- Clothing and shoes that can get wet and dirty. Long pants and sneakers or boots are recommended.
- A hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun.
- A filled reusable water bottle to stay hydrated.
What We Provide:
- Gloves, litter grabbers, trash bags, and all necessary cleanup materials.
- A limited supply of waders. If you have your own, bring them!
Volunteer Requirements:
- Registration below is required to participate. Every volunteer must complete their own registration, and volunteers under 18 must ensure a parent or guardian acknowledges the volunteer agreement below.
- Volunteers of all ages and abilities are welcome. This is a family-friendly event! Young children must be accompanied by an adult.
- If you are volunteering to receive credit for service hours, please bring necessary documentation from your school or organization for one of our staff members to sign at the end of the event.
Contact:
For questions or additional information, please reach out to volunteer@cumberlandrivercompact.org.
- Looking to volunteer with a group? Please contact Anna at volunteer@cumberlandrivercompact.org to be plugged into this volunteer event or another, depending on availability. Private volunteer events are available through a donation-based partnership with the Compact.
- Interested in hosting your own independent cleanups? Community groups can receive free cleanup supplies and guidance for organizing cleanups through the Adopt-a-Stream program! Click here to learn more and apply.
Register Now