The annual coast cleanup will be on Sept. 20. At last year’s event, Bethany DeLuca, of Providence, and Alyssa MacDougall, of East Providence, cleaned Sabin Point in East Providence.

The Providence Journal / Ruben W. Perez

As the summer comes to an end, organizers are once again looking for local volunteers to help with this year’s International Coastal Cleanup. And as they do each year at this time, they have also published lists of all the refuse the volunteers picked up last year on Rhode Island’s shoreline.

This year the cleanups are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon. To volunteer, call the Audubon Society of Rhode Island at (401) 949-5454 or write to July Lewis at jlewis@asri.org.

As in previous years, cigarettes and cigarette filters were once again the most common debris. The 1,462 volunteers who participated in last year’s cleanup removed 16,463 pounds of trash from 62 miles of shoreline.

The refuse included 36,044 cigarettes and filters, 523 cigarette lighters, 1,454 cigar tips and 1,166 pieces of tobacco packaging.

Volunteers picked up 6,473 bags, 1,405 balloons, 6,690 plastic bottles, 4,325 glass bottles, 4,689 cans and 10,730 caps and lids.

They also found 816 shotgun shells, 479 bait containers, 1,779 strands of fishing line, 59 light bulbs, 2,430 pieces of rope, 94 car batteries and 93 tires.

As for personal products, the volunteers picked up 179 condoms, 124 diapers, 76 syringes and 828 tampons.

This year’s Rhode Island cleanups are being organized by Eugenia Marks and July Lewis at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Sponsors include ABC 6, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc., Dunkin’ Donuts, Fidelity Investments, GEM Plumbing and Heating, National Grid, R.I. Bridge & Turnpike Authority, Washington Trust and R.I. Mobile Sportsfishermen.

Marks says that the cleanup is not just an effort to remove litter.

“Some kinds of trash are more dangerous than others,” she said in a statement. “Monofilament fishing line is especially treacherous. Animals easily get tangled in it, and it’s very strong stuff so they can’t break free. Plastic bags are a hazard to sea turtles, which mistake them for jellyfish, and last year there were 6,473 bags collected. These numbers are a reminder that everyone needs to pitch in and keep trash from entering the marine environment.”

In last year’s international cleanup, some 378,000 volunteers picked up 6 million pounds of litter in 76 countries and 45 states. That effort was organized by the Ocean Conservancy. More information can be found at www.oceanconservancy.org.

There is at least one cleanup scheduled in every coastal community in Rhode Island. For locations and phone numbers, go to: http://www.asri.org/general-advocacy-info/audubon-society-of-rhode-island-beach-cleanups.html.

Grants to boost 15 parks projects

The Department of Environmental Management has announced that $1.28 million in passive and historic park recreational development grants has been awarded for 15 projects in 13 communities across the state. The projects include development of a new passive coastal park at Rocky Point in Warwick and renovation of the historic tower at Miantonomi Park in Newport.

The grants are from the 2004 open space bond fund, and provide up to 90-percent financing for municipalities to acquire, develop or renovate passive and historic parks. The state grants will be matched by local bond money and federal grants to generate $2.42 million in passive and historic recreational project improvements throughout Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Recreation Resources Review Committee selected the 15 projects from a total of 34 applications.

The grants went to:

•Barrington: The town will establish pedestrian connections and park amenities within the Barrington Civic Center Historic District. The cost is $122,350; the grant is for $100,000.

•Burrillville: The town will develop a 6,200-foot pedestrian trail connecting the villages of Harrisville and Pascoag. The cost is $100,000; the grant is for $90,000.

•Central Falls: The city will restore the historic Jenks Park stone tower, including stone stairs to the observation deck. The cost is $130,000; the grant is for $100,000.

•Cumberland: The town will renovate the historic Valley Falls Heritage Park, including removal of invasive species and installation of interpretive signs and landscaping. The cost is $110,684; the grant is for $98,490.

•East Providence: The city will restore the historic pond in Squantum Woods Park for ice skating and install bike racks, benches, interpretive signs and a walking trail in the park. The cost is $126,600; the grant is for $100,000.

•Hopkinton: The town will develop Depot Square Park, including a walkway and stone walls. The cost is $522,289; the grant is for $100,000.

•Lincoln: The town will develop a walkway and bridge to connect the historic Moffitt Mill, Chase Farm and Hannaway Blacksmith Shop. The cost is $100,000; the grant is for $90,000.

•Little Compton: The town will establish walking paths, parking, walls and picnic areas in the historic Town Commons. The cost is $166,000; the grant is for $100,000.

•Narragansett: The town will develop Casino Courtyard, a passive park adjacent to the historic towers on Ocean Road, and construct a fountain, seating and landscaping. The cost is $250,000; the grant is for $100,000.

•Newport: The city will restore the historic tower in Miantonomi Park. The cost is $111,000; the grant is for $100,000.

•Pawtucket: The city will restore Friendship Gardens in Slater Park. The gardens were developed in 1935. The cost is $100,000; the grant is for $90,000.

•Pawtucket: The city will renovate Hiker Park, developed in 1922 to honor military veterans. The cost is $11,000; the grant is for $10,000.

•Richmond: The town will develop Knowles Mill Park, a historic passive and interpretive park that will be a focal point in the revitalization of Shannock Village. The cost is $308,100; the grant is for $100,000.

•Warwick: The city will develop a passive coastal park at Rocky Point. The cost is $250,000; the grant is for $100,000.

•Warwick: The city will restore the Gaspee Point overlook and install interpretive signs to allow for viewing of Narragansett Bay and the site of the burning of the Gaspee. The cost is $12,000; the grant is for $10,800.

Classes to develop tree stewards

The Rhode Island Tree Council is taking registrations for the fall 2008 tree stewards education course, which begins Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., at the Jamestown Library, 26 North Rd., Jamestown. Classes will continue Tuesday evenings through Oct. 21. Two outdoor classes scheduled for Saturdays will be announced later.

Stewards learn how to identify trees, diagnose problems, plant, fertilize, prune, water and nurture trees. They also learn how to volunteer to plant trees in their neighborhoods.

To become a certified Rhode Island Tree Steward, participants are asked to attend at least seven out of eight classes and volunteer 30 hours of tree-related community service. The council has many projects for tree stewards, such as pruning and planting work, helping to develop tree programs and participating in tree education programs.

The course fee is $65 and includes material and a manual. For more information or to register, call the Rhode Island Tree Council at (401) 764-5885 or e-mail ritree@ritree.org.

7-mile trail to link Aquidneck areas

The Aquidneck Land Trust has been awarded a $40,000 challenge grant from the Nature Conservancy, through a grant from The Champlin Foundations, to help complete the next phase of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail.

Aquidneck Land Trust must now raise another $40,000 from the community by Nov. 1 to meet the challenge grant awarded by the Nature Conservancy. Special naming opportunities are available on stone benches to be placed along the trail; $6,000 dedicates an entire bench and $1,000 allows a donor to share a bench with five other donors.

When all phases are completed, the trail will be more than seven miles long, connecting Portsmouth’s public recreation area known as The Glen to Middletown’s public recreation area on Wyatt Road.

In addition to hiking, jogging, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, the trail will allow leashed pets and equestrian riding on certain sections. This 1.2-mile phase of the trail will link the 1.5-mile segment completed in 2007 with the 2.2-mile segment constructed around Newport National Golf Course in 2002.

For more information, call (401) 849-2799, ext. 18, or visit Web site www.AquidneckLandTrust.org.

The Environmental Journal is a listing of brief news items about the actions of individuals, organizations and businesses that affect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the landscape that surrounds us. If you have suggestions, please contact environment reporter Peter B. Lord at (401) 277-8036, or by e-mail at plord@projo.com or by writing him, care of The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.