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City of Water Day 2025: Passaic River Cleanup & Paddles
July 12 at 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
2 Camp Ln, Fairfield, NJ 07004
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Thank you to everyone who spent their Saturday with us at the City of Water Day Clean-Up! Your energy, teamwork, and dedication made it a truly special day. It’s inspiring to see how powerful—and joyful—collective action can be when we come together to care for our local waters and open spaces.
Take a look at the photos from the day—feel free to share and download your favorites! CLICK HERE
“City of Water Day” is an initiative led by the Waterfront Alliance, the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program, and the Hudson River Foundation, aimed at fostering community engagement with water resources. This initiative spans the region, encouraging communities to join in river cleanups and paddling events. GSWA will participate by conducting a local stream cleanup along the Passaic River in Fairfield, NJ, and welcomes participants throughout the day to lend a hand. Additionally, short kayaking excursions will be organized for cleanup participants so they experience the beauty of the river they are working to protect. Register today to be a part of this important event in support of clean water and land!
DETAILS
Participants will engage in cleaning up trash including small items such as plastic bottles and carryout food containers as well as larger items like tires and coolers and everything in between. GSWA will provide gloves, trash pickers, and trash bags. Trash will be brought to a nearby location for pick-up by the local DPW the following week.
The event runs 9:30 am – 1:30 pm on July 12, 2025
Location: 2 Camp Lane, Fairfield, NJ
Clean-up is open to all ages / Kayaking is open to adults and children 12-and-up who are accompanied by an adult. Please note: paddles are only open to those who have participated in the clean up!
Please be aware that the clean-up area is a wooded wetland forest floodplain. The terrain is uneven and can be muddy.
PADDLES
Cleanup participants who would like may also join us for a short paddle along the Passaic River in our kayaks. We will run paddles throughout the day that will last approximately 15-20 minutes, and are each open to 7 participants, and each participant may only attend one paddle. Life vests will be provided. See below for the paddle schedule:
IMPORTANT – Kayak Waiver: Each paddle participant MUST submit one of the forms below. If the person is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must sign their form and assume responsibility for the minor. Please complete, sign and bring the form(s) with you. The organizers will collect completed forms before put-in.
REGISTER BELOW! Official sign-up is open through 7/11 at 3 PM—but if it closes, no worries! You’re still welcome to join us on event day at the location. Every helping hand makes a difference.