Hampden Twp. Watershed Festival June 14 In Cumberland County; Have A Swale Time

On June 14 the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay will host the Hampden Township Watershed Festival, a FREE, family-friendly event celebrating the Yellow Breeches and Conodoguinet creeks in Cumberland County.

The festival will take place from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Hampden Township Park, 5002 Hampden Park Drive in Mechanicsburg.

Fun activities include interactive watershed models, rain barrels displays, an environmental trivia hunt, door prizes and tours of a new meadow swale that controls stormwater runoff.

Live music will be provided by Shawan and the Wonton, and the Wild Hymns. The Mad Dash Food Truck will also be on site with “gourmet” grilled cheese sandwiches and milkshakes for purchase.

“We’re offering the entire family a wonderful evening to learn about local efforts to improve our waterways, and have fun enjoying great food, music and community conservation,” said Donna Morelli, the Alliance’s Pennsylvania State Director.

Hampden Township partnered with The Alliance and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to design the swale, which uses soil and plants to clean stormwater before it reaches ground water.  

Hampden Township hired Skelly & Loy, Inc. to construct the swale. Skelly & Loy will be on hand to explain the function of the swale and show visitors around this exciting new stormwater control device.

Other festival exhibitors include the Yellow Breeches and Conodoguinet Creek Watershed Associations, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, and other local environmentally focused organizations and companies.

This FREE event is open to all families and friends to come out and help us celebrate clean water and healthy ecosystems in our local watersheds.

For more information about the festival, contact Allison Campbell at the Alliance by sending email to: acampbell@allianceforthebay.org or call 717-737-8622.

More information is available on programs, initiatives and special events on the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Alliance, Like the Alliance on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, add them to your Circle on Google+ and visit the Alliance’s YouTube Channel.