On January 15, 2022, Shine City Project volunteers spent an entire day together in Henderson and Boulder City. In the morning, the team of ten met at Acacia Park in Henderson, NV and joined many other volunteers for a cleanup with Get Outdoors Nevada. They helped to pick up litter along the Union Pacific Railroad Trail, a trail that runs alongside the tracks of the historic Union Pacific Railroad. The trail is well-maintained and is perfect for pedestrians and bicyclists.
At first, the Shine City volunteers couldn't find so much trash, but after walking several minutes they found areas along the trail that were heavily littered. These included a water drainage area and a dirt lot adjacent to some residential homes. An assortment of items were found, including food packaging, children's clothes, and a BBQ grill. In the end, with the help of all of the volunteers who were present for the cleanup, a total of 262 pounds of trash was collected!
After the service project, the Shine City Project group made a short drive to Boulder City to Hemenway Park where they had lunch and enjoyed the view of Lake Mead while observing some wild bighorn sheep. Lunch was followed by a visit to the Nevada State Railroad Museum where the group learned about the history of the Union Pacific Railroad and its role in the construction activities of the Hoover’s Dam in the 1930s. The group was able to walk around the museum, explore a couple of the exhibits, and enjoy a 40-minute train ride in an open-air train car. The volunteers ended their day with some boba and card games. It was a great time of service and fellowship with each other, and they hope to do another trip together again!