On a recent weekend, members and coaches of the Forestville-Silver Creek football team spent their morning near Mount Carmel Church in Silver Creek then at the soon-to-be-open hiking trail in Forestville. The cleanup was sponsored by the Silver Creek VFW Auxiliary 6472, who also had participating members.

“We were approached by Kevin Eick, who wanted something for the players to do on that Saturday and we came to an agreement and put him in touch with Mount Carmel Church,” said Silver Creek Mayor Jeff Hornburg. “They wanted to clean up the bank along the creek, and it really was an eyesore.”

The crew cleaned everything there out, then went on over to Forestville to work on the hiking trail. Aimee Rogers from Imagine Forestville said they appreciated the help of the football team.

“We had nine athletes and four coaches and a teacher and they came and we started blazing the trail through a wetter area,” Rogers said. ‘It was great to have them.”

The Forestville-Silver Creek football team is pictured with other volunteers after helping clean around Silver Creek and a trail recently. Submitted Photo

Hornburg said that making it a multi-community effort was beneficial to all parties involved.

“They got both communities in one fell swoop and did a great job,” said Hornburg. “We appreciate the job the young lads did there.”

That isn’t the only cleanup that will happen in the village. On the first Thursday in June, the Silver Creek High School History Department requested permission to assist in the village cleanup. The History Department, led by Kristen Foley, has helped the Village out in the past at Hideaway Bay, and Hornburg said that the park near Madison Street will be the target this year. Street Superintendent Bob Bankoski will be coordinating the cleanup.

“Bob said we could find something and mentioned the little park near Madison Street,” said Hornburg. “There’s a nice view of the lake there and they’ve taken it over since Don Wells passed away. He was the one who took care of it before.”

Forestville’s hiking trail is set to be open on July 9.