October 13, 2020 – El Paso County Parks will host the annual Ghouls and Stools Day on Saturday, October 31, to cleanup Bear Creek Dog Park.
Ghouls and Stools Day offers park users and volunteers an opportunity to give back by picking up dog waste in Bear Creek Dog Park. Pet waste that remains on trails is swept up in rainfall and snowmelt; if left untreated, it can contribute to the contamination of lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. Bear Creek is especially vulnerable to non-point source pollution because of the increased use of the park by patrons playing with their pets.
Ghouls and Stools Day:
- Saturday, October 31, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Bear Creek Regional Park at 21stStreet & Rio Grande Street
- Plastic gloves, bags and buckets will be provided
- The Costume Contest categories include TV/Movie, Scariest, Most Original and Best Matching Duo
“We are excited to be a partner for this fun and important event,” said Dana Nordstrom, Community Outreach Coordinator with El Paso County Community Services. “Pet waste is rampant in our communities, and it has a real impact on water quality, in addition to being stinky and unsightly. The simple everyday step of picking up that waste is critical for pet owners to take to keep our water safe and clean. This event does a great job of bringing attention to this issue, reminding pet owners and pet care-givers to make the responsible choice of scooping the poo every time, and the event is fun.”
The Bear Creek Dog Park was established in 1997 at the request of citizens who wanted a safe place to let their dogs off-leash. It is now the most heavily used facility in the County’s park system with over 90,000 visitors bringing their dogs to the park every year. Other amenities include dog drinking fountains, dog wash facility, temporarily holding kennels and restrooms for humans.
For more information on Ghouls and Stools Day and Bear Creek Dog Park, please contact El Paso County Parks at 520-7529.
The event is sponsored by The Friends for Bear Creek Dog Park, InTouch Home Care, Heuberger Motors Subaru and El Paso County Parks.
