Grant application to the Riverside Fund · Spring 2027 round
Mill River Trust
$5,500 to clear the last two miles of the Mill River, and keep them clear.
Applicant
Mill River Trust
14 Mill Street, Riverside
Submitted to
The Riverside Fund
Community grants, 2027
Request
$5,500
The full cost
The work
Three Saturdays
April 3, 10 and 17
$2,400
Dumpsters, three Saturdays
$1,600
Four drain nets
$900
Gear
$600
Cover
01
The problem
Every storm ends up in the river.
Eleven storm drains empty into the two miles between the old dam and Bridge Street, and each heavy rain carries the streets above into the water. The banks are too steep for the town’s crews, so what lands there stays. Last spring 140 volunteers cleared the first half mile in a weekend; this year we finish the job, and net the worst drains so it stays finished.
2 mi
of riverbank to clear
11
storm drains feeding it
4 tons
pulled out last spring
02
What the river gave back
Last spring | Count |
Car tires | 41 |
Shopping carts | 3 |
Bottles and cans | 1,180 |
Sacks of plastic bags | 62 |
Cones and road signs | 10 |
03
The plan
Three Saturdays in April, one stretch of river each.
Mile 0.0 to 0.6
Saturday, April 3
The old dam to the footbridge. The steepest banks: ropes, waders and our most experienced crews.
Mile 0.6 to 1.3
Saturday, April 10
The footbridge to the park. Families welcome, with two classes from Riverside School.
Mile 1.3 to 2.0
Saturday, April 17
The park to Bridge Street, and nets fitted to the four worst storm drains.
We work downstream, so nothing we loosen drifts onto a stretch already cleared.
04
How each Saturday runs
A crew leader for every ten volunteers, a dumpster at the meeting point and a town truck to take it away.
8:30
Sign in and the safety talk
9:00
Crews out, a leader each
12:30
Lunch on the gravel bar
2:00
The haul weighed and counted
05
The budget
Every dollar buys something the river needs and the town can’t lend.
Item | What it buys | Cost |
Dumpsters | Rental and disposal fees, one a Saturday | $2,400 |
Drain nets | Four nets for the worst storm drains | $1,600 |
Gear | Waders, grabbers and first-aid kits | $900 |
Cover | Accident insurance for every volunteer | $600 |
Total | $5,500 |
Given in kind, not counted: gloves and bags from Riverside Hardware; the town’s trucks and crews.
06
Who does what
Who | What they do |
Mill River Trust | Runs the three days, trains and leads every crew |
Town public works | Brings and takes away the dumpsters, fits the nets |
Riverside School | Brings two classes on April 10 |
Riverside Hardware | Gives the gloves and bags |
07
What we ask of the fund
- A grant of $5,500, the whole budget above.
- Payment by March 1, 2027, so the dumpsters and nets can be ordered in time.
- A visit on April 10, to see the work with the Riverside School classes.
We will report back by May 28, 2027 with photographs, the tons pulled out of each stretch and the state of every drain net.
Ana Lucero, Chair, Mill River Trust · ana@millrivertrust.example · (413) 555-0147
