Augusta, Georgia – Dozens of volunteers spent the morning along the Augusta Canal, cleaning and restoring one of the city’s ancient treasures.
Mayor Garnett Johnson hosted the cleanup as part of his Operation City Clean-Up project, which aims to clean up the city.
Scott Hudson helped begin a previous iteration of the canal cleanup years ago and is reviving it alongside Johnson.
“I reckon this is the first step, and seeing this many people show up and bring their kids, it’s a powerful statement about my community,” Hudson told the crowd.
Many of the volunteers were families with small children. According to Mayor Johnson, this is significant not simply because of the assistance provided, but also because it connects children to Augusta’s history.
“I remember as a youngster, my uncles and my dad would bring me fishing along the beautiful Augusta Canal,” Johnson told me.
“Having the youth involved means we can continue to tell and pass that story on.”
Johnson says he still goes to the canal on a daily basis and hopes that more people will take advantage of one of Augusta’s best outdoor attractions.
“Not many communities have the ability to walk along one of the most beautiful places on our river and canal,” he told the crowd.
Beginning in January, the mayor intends to make canal cleanups a monthly event.
