2025 PATH400 Pond Cleanup
Waking up on a chilly, drizzly Saturday morning, I won’t lie—I was tempted to stay in bed and maybe even call off the event. But the forecast promised clearing skies, so I sent out the all-clear. To my surprise (and delight), our incredible Livable Buckhead volunteers shook off the urge to stay under the covers and showed up, ready to make a difference. And let me tell you—it was a day of service that left us all feeling accomplished, a feeling that’s all too rare in this digital age.
Our goal for the day? Clearing out the trash and debris that inevitably collects in the pond along PATH400—most of it courtesy of GA400 traffic. Picture this: Styrofoam cups from our beloved Chick-fil-A (seriously, why don’t their cow mascots campaign for recycling?), cans, bottles, and an unfortunate assortment of plastic bits. Armed with waders, trash grabbers, and gloves generously provided by the Fulton County Water Department, we were ready to tackle the mess.
Before diving in (not literally, thankfully), we got a surprise treat—a mini-lecture from Stephanie Bilodeau, a PhD student from Georgia Tech who studies the pond’s ecosystem. For those who preferred blissful ignorance about what they were wading into, it was perhaps less of a treat.
Stephanie introduced us to the pond’s residents: sunfish, crawfish, extra-long tadpoles, and a super unique aquatic caterpillar that eventually transforms into a small moth. She reassured us that in her years of research, she’d only encountered a few snakes—phew—and they were non-venomous—phew phew—and that, since it’s February, most pond life was dormant—phew phew phew. With that comforting knowledge, we eagerly set off to start cleaning!
Recent fallen trees had turned some areas of the pond into a thick, mushy mess, but our fearless volunteers didn’t let that stop them. They waded in deep, retrieving lingering trash and battling the sludge. The final haul? Over 30 pounds of trash removed, graffiti scrubbed away, and—on a sad note—two very decomposed beaver/woodchuck remains (we didn’t investigate too closely, thanks to the smell).
Despite the mud and the mystery critters, everyone made it out dry and surprisingly not too cold—big shoutout to the waders for that! From my vantage point on the banks, I saw nothing but smiles. This isn’t your average volunteer opportunity—it’s a chance to get semi-dirty and walk away with a real sense of accomplishment.
Honoring Maxine Rock
This annual event is more than just a cleanup—it’s a tribute to Maxine Rock, a dear friend of Livable Buckhead and PATH400. Maxine was a driving force behind the PATH Foundation and played a key role in developing PATH400 and expanding Atlanta’s trail network. She was a passionate environmental advocate, and we’re honored to continue her legacy. This year, we were thrilled to have her family join us and to showcase the new native plants added to the Rock Garden overlook at the pond.
Join Us Next Time!
A huge thank you to everyone who came out on this dreary day to help keep our parks and trails beautiful. If you’re looking for more opportunities to get involved, sign up for our Sustainability and Volunteer Newsletters to stay in the loop on upcoming events. We’d love to see you out there next time—rain, shine, or a little bit of both!
