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Canal Clean Sweep

Celebrate Earth Day with a purpose! Sponsored by the NYS Canal Corporation, Canal Clean Sweep is an annual statewide event that occurs along New York’s historic canalways and greenways on Earth Day weekend. This spring, from April 18-20, 2025, thousands of volunteers will clean up more more than a hundred locations along historic canals in New York State. 

Over its 20-year legacy, Canal Clean Sweep has mobilized thousands of volunteers from scout troops and small business to elected officials and rotaries. In 2024, 193 Clean Sweep events occurred across the corridor, with participation from close to 4,000 people. We estimate that most groups filled at least 4 bags during their clean-up, meaning roughly 772 bags of trash were filled across the three-day event for a total of 42,460 gallons of trash removed! 42,460 gallons of trash would be roughly equivalent to 53 tons… To help visualize the impact, the amount of trash collected would be equivalent to the weight of 5 to 6 adult African elephants! That doesn’t even account for items too big to fit in a trash bag like tires, bikes, and vacuum cleaners.

Parks & Trails New York joined New York State Parks and the State Department of Environmental Conservation to encourage visitors at state parks and other state-owned and managed lands to enjoy their outdoor adventure while protecting these precious natural resources. The Love Our New York Lands campaign recognizes the record numbers of New Yorkers and visitors from around the globe who have discovered that the Empire State's scenic beauty and exceptional recreation make for the perfect destination.

In 2024, Canal Clean Sweep joined the suite of Love our New York Lands events alongside PTNY's flagship event, I Love My Park Day.

 2025 Canal Clean Sweep Event Finder Map

CLICK THE MAP BELOW TO FIND A CANAL CLEAN SWEEP EVENT NEAR YOU


How it Works (Email [email protected] if you need assistance with registration, or if you have any additional questions)

Volunteer at an event* 

If you do not want to host your own event, you can participate in an existing event! Select from nearly 100, public events (GREEN PIN) displayed on the map above. Gather your friends, family, and colleagues to volunteer at the many cleanup locations across the state. Volunteering strengthens communities by bringing people together to address shared challenges, create positive change, and support important causes. 

  • Select a site near you: Using the interactive map, find a scheduled clean-up.
    • The GREEN PINS are open to the public.
    • The RED PINS are all private events, which are by invite only. 
  • Register to volunteer: Browse around the map and select the public event you would like to participate in.
    • Make sure to view the dates and times, as some clean ups will not occur the weekend of April 18-20, 2025.
  • Check your confirmation email to review details
  • Reach out to your host with any questions
  • Clean-up Preparation: On the day of the event, arrive at the place indicated in your confirmation email. Check your email prior to the event as hosts might send out additional information. Canal Clean Sweep t-shirts and trash bags will be provided by Parks & Trails New York. We recommend bringing your own gloves and water, and wearing protective clothing. 

*If there isn't an event scheduled near you, consider hosting your own.

Why your participation matters

From “Clinton’s Ditch” to the “eighth wonder of the world,” the Erie Canal transformed New York, and captured the nation’s attention as an engineering marvel and economic powerhouse. This year PTNY and partners will be celebrating the “bicentennial period” of the Erie Canal (2017-2025), from the official groundbreaking in Rome in 1817 and the fabled “Wedding of the Waters” in New York Harbor in 1825.

Parks & Trails New York welcomes you to celebrate this significant milestone by helping us reach our goal of hosting 200 events across the canal system to honor the achievements and progress we have made over 200 years.

Sponsors

Are you interested in sponsoring Canal Clean Sweep in 2025?

Please contact Will Cote, PTNY's Senior Director of Public Lands, [email protected]

FIND A COMPLETE LIST OF 2025 SPONSORS HERE.

Parks & Trails New York (“PTNY”) is a registered 501c3 organization and not affiliated with its I Love My Park Day partners, the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. PTNY exercises sole discretion in selecting and approving all Sponsors for this event, and 100% of all Sponsor proceeds are donated to PTNY. Participation as a Sponsor does not constitute endorsement of any entity.