Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Lori Wengert searches the woods between the former Target building and the Cottonwood River for litter.

NEW ULM — A group of volunteers helped pick up litter through Junior Pioneer Park, South Park and around the Burger King area Saturday.

The group was led by Lori Wengert in collaboration with the Junior Pioneers of New Ulm. Wengert frequently leads clean-up efforts in the area around the Cottonwood River, and members of Junior Pioneers regularly maintain Junior Pioneers Park adjacent to the river. The two groups decided to join forces to clean up the area before Earth Day.

Wengert said Earth Day is her favorite day of the year, and she usually picks up litter around the community.

Ten years ago she adopted the area around the Cottonwood River and continues to keep it clean.

“For me, it has become an obsession,” she said. “I am here all the time.”

The wooded area along the Cottonwood River near the former Target building does require routine clean-up. Wengert said it is prone to collecting litter from the area. The litter situation did improve after Target closed, but is still an ongoing problem in the region.

Lori and Chad Wengert routinely clean up litter, but there is always more trash to find. Food wrappers are common, but it is also a dumping site for unusual items.

Volunteer Danny Vanderlow found a garbage can with a missing bottom in the woods. It was a rare occasion where a trash can became trash.

The COVD pandemic has also been a recent contributor to litter. Disposable facemasks are everywhere. People use the masks once to enter a store and throw them on the ground the moment they leave. The masks eventually blow into the ravine near South Park.

The foliage in the area has prevented some trash from entering the river, but Chad Wengert said as the trees were trimmed back, more trash is reaching the creek.

Areas with thicker foliage catch the trash, but collecting it is not always easy. The brambles and bards to catch litter also catch on those trying to collect it causing scratches. Litter clean-up is not without its hazards.

“It feels good when you can help make New Ulm look better, and you’re helping the critters that live in the areas,” Wengert said.

In addition to helping pick up trash, Junior Pioneer members conducted spring cleaning of the Junior Pioneer Park on the opposite bank of the Cotton River. Several volunteers raked up leaves and gathered brush as part of the park’s regular maintenance.

Junior Pioneer President Larry Mack said the park does need regular maintenance, but fortunately, litter is not an extreme problem in the park.

Mack said the public is free to use the park, but they do ask people to pick it up before they leave. Most users of the park are compliant.

Junior Pioneer Park is an unusual park because it is privately owned. It is one of the only private parks in New Ulm. The park’s location was purchased by 14 settlers in the early 1870s and named Jägers Ruhe (Hunter’s Rest). The settlers wanted to preserve the property for their descendants. The property was sold to the Junior Pioneers in 1923. The group has maintained the park ever since.

On Facebook, Wengert thanked all the volunteers who helped with Saturday’s clean-up. She and Chad continued clean-up efforts Sunday, moving to Adam’s Park and the Poor Farm bridge. She said they will continue to move from Hoffmann Construction to Cobbs Creek and also the bridge by the Community Garden.

Wengert encouraged everyone to do their small part to clean up the community. She said even picking up litter on the street prevents it from going down street drains and into the river.

Earth Day is Thursday, April 22.