{"id":119106,"date":"2023-09-21T14:00:14","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T18:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=119106"},"modified":"2025-06-23T16:04:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T20:04:23","slug":"clean-drains-concludes-with-saturday-celebration-20230923","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2023\/09\/21\/clean-drains-concludes-with-saturday-celebration-20230923\/","title":{"rendered":"Clean Drains concludes with Saturday celebration – 9\/23\/2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The three-year initiative christened Clean Drains Fort Wayne comes to its resoundingly successful conclusion on September 23, 2023.<\/p>\n

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Fort Wayne City Utilities news release:<\/p>\n

“Only Rain in the Drain”<\/strong>
\nClean Drains Concludes with Saturday Celebration
\nVolunteers Step-Up, Unveils Legacy Mural as Permanent Call to Action<\/em><\/p>\n

Fort Wayne, Indiana (September 21, 2023) \u2014 The three-year initiative christened Clean Drains Fort Wayne comes to its resoundingly successful conclusion on Saturday, September 23, during Clean Drains Fest, a celebratory, fun-filled afternoon for the entire community at Promenade Park.<\/p>\n

While entertainment and enjoyment lead the list of activities, the event puts a capstone on the mission of Clean Drains: to elevate public awareness about our 22,000 storm drains as the gateways to our rivers and the role they play \u2014 and every resident can play \u2014 in keeping pollution of all kinds out of our waterways.<\/p>\n

Ground pollution, including oil, pet waste, trash, lawn pesticide runoff, and heavy metals, can harm our waterways and aquatic life when they enter our storm drains. That’s why Friends of the Rivers and City Utilities began the community-wide Clean Drains Fort Wayne campaign. Clearing and marking thousands of storm drains with reminder medallions were the campaign’s tasks, and the mantra of “Only Rain in the Drain” became its universal call to action.<\/p>\n

Over 500 Fort Wayne residents have risen to that challenge this week for Clean the Drains Day. And when the work is complete, it’s time to celebrate.<\/p>\n

Clean Drains Fest begins at 1 pm along the Riverfront, with activities for all residents going until 4 pm.<\/p>\n

Family-friendly activities will take place throughout the park and on the river that day. Games, interactive pool-noodle sculpture building, music and loads of entertainment will captivate all ages, along with special events each hour:<\/p>\n