Finger Lakes Railway, Geneva Boys and Girls Club, & City Public Works  

Geneva, NY, April 30, 2008 – On Saturday, May 3, from 10am – 1pm, the Finger Lakes Railway will sponsor a clean up effort in the City of Geneva along the tracks from the Public Safety Building on Railroad Ave. to the Dept of Public Works Building on Gates Ave.

“Unfortunately, people trespass through there and throw their garbage near the tracks because they think no one will see it,” states Deb Najarro, Finger Lakes Railway Spokesperson. “They couldn’t be more wrong.” Residents who live and travel near the tracks, see the papers, bottles, full garbage bags and debris spread across the whole area.

“They call us to come pick it up if it gets too bad,” comments Tony Validzic, Deputy Director of Geneva Public Works. In an effort to keep the tracks clean, the railroad needs help. Najarro states that even though it is the railroad’s property to keep clean, it is very costly to maintain a clean-up program for miles of track where people think they have a right to walk.

Trespassing and littering on railroad property is against the law. However, catching the people that do this is very difficult. In cooperation with the city and the railroad, the Geneva Boys and Girls Club, Teen Center Director, Laure Fuchs, agreed to help with this clean up and public education effort. Her teen group, known as the G-Town Keystone Club, will be lending a few helping hands in exchange for a free train ride when they are done.

They will see first-hand how bad the problem has become, and they will learn why it is dangerous to walk or play near the railroad tracks. The city is donating garbage bags, gloves, and dumping access for this effort. “We really appreciate this partnership with us, from the Boys and Girls Club, and from the City Public Works,” says Najarro.

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