The park, which is located on the east side of Pyramid Highway north of Queen Way and south of Disc Drive, is about 270 acres of open space. Sunday’s clean-up will be held from 9 a.m. to noon.
“Tom Young is the owner of the Great Basin Brewery and he is the one that approached the city of Sparks to help take care of the space,” said Jenn McDuffee, sustainability manager for the brewery. “Great Basin has always been involved in the community, environmental issues and the arts.”
Sunday’s clean-up will help the brewery prepare to take the next step in improving the park.
Maia Dickerson, program director for Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, said Wedekind Regional Park was previously on the list of parks cleaned up as part of the nonprofit’s annual spring clean-up.
“Once (the city of Sparks) put the fence up, we’ve seen less illegal dumping of larger items,” Dickerson said.
While smaller trash items are still an issue, Dickerson said that because of the park’s proximity to Pyramid Highway it is important for people who travel past it to make sure all loose items and garbage are secure in truck beds and in cars.
Dickerson said about 60 people have signed up to volunteer at Sunday’s clean-up and more volunteers are needed. She added that volunteers should bring water and work gloves and be ready to get dirty.
McDuffee said the brewery is hoping to make the clean-up an annual event.
“The fact that the community has the ability to enhance and use the space is amazing,” she said. “I’m very community-minded. To me, just being a part of something like this, knowing you’re a part of your community and making a difference is a good feeling.”
Part of the brewery’s community involvement meant fundraising for Wedekind Regional Park during the Sparks Hometowne Farmer’s Market, which ran through the months of June, July and August.
McDuffee said the brewery set up a booth at the farmer’s market where people could play the cornhole game.
“It’s kind of like horseshoes, with two different sides and two different teams,” McDuffee said, adding that the game is a Midwest tradition. “People like cornhole. They think the game is fun. It’s a two-way thing: you’re having fun and raising money for a good cause.”
Cornhole consists of two triangular boards with holes cut in them. Participants could purchase beanbags and try to throw them through the hole for a chance to win gift cards to Great Basin Brewery or a keg of beer.
McDuffee said the brewery raised $696 to put toward projects related to the improvement of Wedekind Regional Park. Cornhole tournaments at the brewery are still held and the money raised goes to improvements at the park.
The next cornhole tournament is Oct. 25 at noon.
“We will use that money for whatever enhancements the park might need,” McDuffee said. “Long term, we’d like to make some bike trails, walking trails, put in some benches and signs.”
McDuffee said the clean-up is a family friendly event and kids are more than welcome to help out.
“It’s a good opportunity for parents to be able to teach their kids to give back to the community,” she said.
Great Basin Brewery will be providing sandwiches, water, soda and beer from the brewery for clean-up volunteers.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the north entrance to the park off Disc Drive just west of the Sports Authority store in the Galleria Shopping Center.
Volunteers can sign up to help on the Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful Web site, www.ktmb.org.
For more information or to volunteer, call 851-5185 or visit www.ktmb.org.
If someone sees illegal dumping, it can be reported by calling 329-DUMP.
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