Mayors' Riverfront and Verburg Parks Beautification

Showcasing the Best of Kalamazoo.

We take a community-wide, year-round, collaborative approach toward stewardship. We think our work is much more than unveiling cleaner, healthier, and more pleasant to use waterways and adjoining greenways. We unveil community spirit and civic pride.

Here in the greater Kalamazoo area we have much to boast about, much to celebrate.

This spring we are launching the beginning of our Kalamazoo Riverside Parks Beautification Project. This is a build from last year's Kalamazoo River and River Valley Trail Cleanup events where hundreds of volunteers cleared thousands of pounds of litter, trash, and other unwanted debris, from our Kalamazoo River and adjoining greenways.

Our focus will be making improvements to our flagship Mayors' Riverfront and Verburg parks. Work will include the clearing of litter and trash, eradicating invasive trees and bushes, creating generous river overlooks, and plating of native trees, bushes, and grasses to beautify the landscape.

Mayors' Riverfront and Verburg Parks Beautification Project Overview

This riverside parks beautification project is a collaboration between Michigan Waterways Stewards, Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation, and Barry, Calhoun, Kalamazoo Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. This high-impact, community-wide, volunteer resourced event, will change the landscape of Mayors' Riverfront and Verburg Parks

It includes two 2025 seasonal projects. The work will result in the greater integration of the Kalamazoo Valley River Trail with the Kalamazoo River. We will be creating improved sight lines, river overlooks, and improve biodiversity via the planting of native trees, bushes, and grasses. The later will create a more resilient landscape and restore the food web to attract and maintain wildlife and essential pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and beetles.

The first event is slated for this spring, the weekend of April 12 and 13. Another this fall, on a date not yet determined, which will include reforestation in the form of an Adopt A Tree program..

SPRING 2025 - APRIL 12 & 13 10AM - 3PM
• Eradicate invasive trees, bushes and other unwanted flora. Those identified include: Buckthorn, Tree of Heaven... Privet, Honeysuckle, and Autumn Olive
• Create generous sight lines to integrate the Kalamazoo River with Kalamazoo River Valley Trail.
• Create Kalamazoo River overlooks to improve the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail experience.

JOIN US FOR A DAY, OR TWO, OF STEWARDSHIP AND CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY.
April 12 Event Headquarters: Mayors' Riverfront Park
April 13 Event Headquarters: Verburg Park
All equipment and hospitality will be provided. But, bring your favorite work gloves if you have any.

FALL 2025
•  Plant native trees, bushes, and grasses to help restore the area’s natural ecology and improve biodiversity.
•  Incorporate an Adopt A Tree component to engage the greater community and improve connectivity to Kalamazoo's treasured parks and prized river.

EARLY PROJECT PARTNERS
1.  Michigan Waterways Stewards Project lead.
2.  Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation Municipal partner.
3.  BCK CISMA Technical partner.
4. Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones Technical Partner
5.  WMU Greek Community WMU volunteer recruitment led by Sigma Chi fraternity.

If you wish to help, whether it be to volunteer, be project lead, or event sponsor, drop us a note. We would love to hear from you.

JOIN US • CREATE LASTING IMPACT • THIS IS OUR LEGACY
SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF PAGE TO SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER OR SUPPORT IN ANOTHER WAY.

What Early Project Partners Have to Say.

Patrick McVerry
City of Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation, Director

“Being able to partner with BCK CISMA and their experts in removing invasive plants at Mayors Riverfront and Verburg parks and along the Kalamazoo River will be a fantastic project for the City of Kalamazoo and park and river users.

By coming together as a community to remove invasive plants we are not only helping our environment, but we are also contributing to the beautification of one of Kalamazoo largest parks and recreation areas.

This event will continue the amazing progress that was started last year in cleaning up the Kalamazoo River for everyone to enjoy.”

Mike Stout
Michigan Waterways Stewards, President and Founder

"I have had the pleasure to partner with the City of Kalamazoo and BCK CISMA on two record setting events last year, creating impact in the greater Kalamazoo area and Marshall.

I look forward to working with Patrick and Sara again on community-wide projects that literally change the landscape.

This event will too be the largest of its type, tons of fun, and the impact created will last for generations. We look forward to taking the learnings here and applying them elsewhere to advance the battle against unwanted invasives and make our rivers and riverside parks cleaner, healthier, and more pleasant to use”

Sara Heutteman
BCK CISMA, Invasive Species Coordinator

"This project is an excellent example of the BCK CISMA partnership at work. We each bring skills that allow for the most impact: removing invasive species, protecting the waterways, and engaging the community. This is the second project with Michigan Waterways Stewards. They've been a driving force throughout the State to energize groups, and I cannot wait to see what these parks look like after these planned volunteer days.

This type of work can be super satisfying to be a part of, as there are immediate results. The plan is to cut down various shrubs and trees that are invasive to the area and, weather-dependent, treat the stumps with an herbicide that will ensure that all that effort lasts. There is a variety of work tasks that many different skill levels can participate in: using loppers to remove the small plants and trim back limbs to expose a trunk, using handsaws for larger shrubs and small trees, working together to create brush piles, and daubing the stumps with herbicide."

Join Us • Create Lasting Impact • This Is Our Legacy

If you would like to be part of this transformative change, there are a number of way you can help:

Volunteer to help cut and clear invasive trees, bushes, and other unwanted flora. Create sight-lines and scenic overlooks to create a greater Mayors' Riverfront and Verburg Parks user experience.
Be a team leader, If you're skilled in identifying and treating invasive species, and inspire others to become environmental stewards.
Become an event sponsor, give financially. or give in-kind. We'll generous promote your generous support.

Thank You for Caring and Giving.

Because of your generous support our work is possible, that our waterways are cleaner, healthier, and more pleasant to use.

We thank you. To donate, click here.

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City of Kalamazoo Quarterly Recycling

City of Kalamazoo residents can drop off Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam, electronics, and other recycling once every quarter at Mayors' Riverfront Park.

Residents can drop off any amount of the accepted materials during collection times. Volunteers will be set up to eagerly assist from 10AM to 1PM on those collection dates listed below.

2025 Calendar | Remaining Year

Saturday, April 26
Saturday July 26
Saturday, October 25
Saturday, December 27

Please do not leave material unattended outside of the collection times.

To learn more about the City of Kalamzoo's quarterly recyclng program, click here.