Properly fueled on the awesome power provided by doughnuts and coffee, a large group of people ventured to the far corners of Idaho Springs on May 8 in search of litter.

The cleanup event, which started at Courtney Riley Cooper Park, drew more than 50 people out into the chilly weather.

The city’s Cleanup Day was held in preparation for Memorial Day weekend. According to City Administrator Cindy Condon, it has been held regularly for the past 15 years.

“We try to do it before Memorial Day before we have the tourists come to town,” Condon said.

Condon said the event plays an important role for the city because the manpower to properly pick the city clean doesn’t necessarily exist.

“It is just very important to the city because we don’t have the staff to pick up the litter that accumulates from our proximity … to Interstate 70,” Condon said. “… Our staff is required to pick up (trash) on a weekly/monthly basis. Just this one time of year to (clean) really good around the bushes and along the fence lines and things like that (is) very important.”

Condon said the event was a good way to start the tourist season.

Idaho Springs resident Barbara Johnson brought her 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter to last Saturday’s event.

“We walk around town all the time, and so we’re happy to come help clean up the trash,” Johnson said. “Normally if we see something, we’ll pick it up, but it is great to get the kids involved with big community groups so they get excited about doing stuff together.”

Local Stacy Quine brought her young son to the event. She said it shows her child that it’s important to take care of the community and for residents to work together for a common cause.

“We’ll get more done if we all get together and do it, and it shows that we care,” Quine said.

City council members Phyllis Adams and Denise Deese were among local officials who donated their time to the event.

Adams said she and Deese filled eight garbage bags in two hours from the area between McDonald’s and I-70 on the east end of town. They picked up fast-food cups and straws, beer bottles, pop cans and paper.

Adams said she wasn’t surprised by the amount of trash they found.

“Not when you consider that it is right by the interstate and all the fast-food places (and) drive-through places on both sides of the street and all that,” Adams said. “But when you’re the one bending over to pick it up — yes, it’s a lot of stuff.”

Adams said she hopes even more people turn up for the cleanup event next year because, in the end, it benefits all residents of the city.

“It would be good if some of the businesses might police their own areas a bit, too,” Adams added.

City Clerk Tami DuBois, who headed up the event, said she was impressed by the number of people who came to lend a hand.

“I thought this was a good year. We did have a lot of people; everybody was excited to get out there,” DuBois said. “… We had several little kids out there with their blue (cleaning) gloves on and their trash bags — I thought it was a big, big success.”

Contact Ian Neligh at couranteditor@evergreenco.com, and check www.clearcreekcourant.com for updates and breaking news.