Events

KARING FOR THE KZOO 2026

Mark your calendars and join us for this very early spring 2026 Kalamazoo Mayor’s Riverfront and Verburg Parks beautification and Kalamazoo Valley River Trail cleanup. This marks our fifth consecutive, twice-yearly, community-wide event dedicated to improving the City of Kalamazoo’s riverfront parks and adjacent river trail experience.

There are two (2) distinct components to this event:

1. Mayors’ Riverfront and Verburg Parks Beautification: 10 AM – 3 PM

This is where, under the guidance of invasive plant specialists, we will continue our efforts to eradicate invasive trees and bushes that are choking out native species and pushing out small birds, animals, and pollinators. We will also be trimming back any overhanging branches and clearing the trail of any loose leaves and other natural debris to improve the Kalamazoo Valley River Trail user experience.

2. Litter and Trash Pick Up: 10 AM – 1 PM

This event’s litter and trash pickup will be on and along the Kalamazoo Valley River Trail. Our primary areas of focus will be the KVRT from Mayors’ Riverfront to Verburg Parks, and then those stretches from Mayors’ to Comstock and Verburg Park to Parchment.

Because of early season cold water temperatures and swift-flowing waters, any on-river activities will be reserved for only those expert paddlers or those with power boats. We’ll return on another date to canvas the Kalamazoo River to complete our stewardship along this stretch.

There are a number of ways in which you can support:

1. Are you or your organization invasive plant specialists? Help us and be a team lead.
2. Are you comfortable and able to help treat and clear invasive trees and bushes? We need your help to complete this transformative parks improvement.
3. Help pick up litter and trash along as much as 4.5 miles of the KVRT.
4. Tell your friends, family, and coworkers, and make it a team event.
5. Be an event partner and sponsor; give financially or in-kind.

Everything needed will be provided for this event, including equipment, food, and hospitality. Also, Kalamazoo Growlers will be providing food and snacks at their ballpark, and every volunteer will receive a FREE pass to a Growlers’ home game on a date to be announced soon.

We are pleased to share that this event is being generously supported by Western Michigan University students and, in particular, their Greek community, championed by Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, and Alpha Sigma Phi fraternities. The WMU Greek community was instrumental in our spring 2025 parks beautification efforts and fall 2025 Kalamazoo parks, river, and river trail cleanup.

To learn more, visit https://www.miwaterwaysstewards.org/karing-for-the-kzoo26—spring.html.