I recently found out about a local effort taking place at Middlefork Reservoir in Richmond, Indiana. Brian Grimes,founder of the Friends of Middlefork Reservoir group, has taken it upon himself to stand up and do something to help take care of this beautiful area.  I had a chance to talk to him more about it.

Brian Grimes, Founder of Friends of Middlefork Reservoir

1.  GoWayneCounty:  So what’s Friends of Middlefork Reservoir all about?

Grimes:  Friends of Middlefork Reservoir is a group that I started to try to clean up some of the garbage that is all over the grounds of my favorite spot in my hometown. We are a group that is committed to keeping one of Richmond’s most beautiful natural resources clean and enjoyable for those of us that enjoy the activities that can be enjoyed at the park.

2. GoWayneCounty: When/Why did you start this organization?

Grimes: I started this organization as a call from my Biology professor Peggy Branstrator at IU East. She gave us an assignment to complete a set amount of service hours and it was important to me to do something that means something to me. I didn’t want to just participate in something already organized, I wanted to take a leading role to make a change in an area where I was seeing a real problem. I started Friends of Middlefork Reservoir because the lake and land around it means a lot to me. My Grandpa taught me how to fish there 25 years ago and that is where some of the best times of my life have occurred. Recently, especially since Reid Hospital moved closer to the lake, there has been a large increase in the amount of cigarette butts around the parking lot. Also, while having lunch with my children in the park I have seen things such as condoms and other things like that in the area where my children want to run and play. Recently city officials have posted signs saying it is illegal to participate in lewd conduct in the city parks. My family laid my Grandpa to rest by putting his ashes in the lake. It is sacred ground to me. I want to do all that I can to keep this place clean for families to enjoy the way we have over all these years.

Middlefork Reservoir, Photo from the south looking toward the north of the Lake. Photo Credit: Waynet.org

3. GoWayneCounty: So what are the next steps Friends of Middlefork Reservoir have to take to help this very worthwhile effort continue to grow?

Grimes: I have been in contact with the Parks Department officials and they are onboard to help how ever they can. They have offered resources such as dumpster for our efforts. The people at Middlefork have been very welcoming to our effort. I have talked to a couple City Councilmen and they seem to really like the efforts we are putting forth. They have asked me to try to put together a presentation for them that they can use to get more people on board. Our facebook group has 79 people and is growing daily. I look forward to watching this grassroots effort grow. I am going to try to plan a Clean up/group picnic for the summer. I really want to thank Gowaynecounty for their support in the grassroots group. Come join our facebook group and watch us grow and do big things for our community.

To learn more about what you can do to get involved in this effort click here:

Friends of Middlefork Reservoir Effort