In June 2019, the Fleet Feet in Bloomington, IL, adopted a 1.5-mile stretch of the Constitution Trail, a 37-mile rails-to-trails path that runs through the city of Bloomington as well as the neighboring town of Normal.

Now, once a month a group of 10 volunteers corralled through an online signup meet at Rollingbrook Park, which is also the frequent assembly point of Fleet Feet Bloomington’s training groups. Armed with garbage bags, gloves and vests, the volunteers fan out along the trail and pick up any trash along the Fleet Feet-adopted stretch.

“It’s a great social activity for friends or even families that want to engage in a community service activity together,” says Fleet Feet Bloomington owner Julie Sibley, adding that even non-runners participate.

A Rotarian with a community service-minded spirit, Sibley says she felt the civic responsibility to keep the trails clean as both a runner and as a local business owner.

“I am always looking for opportunities to give back to our community and keeping our trail clean just seemed like the right thing to do,” she says.