The River Rats recently completed their twelfth trip to the river and they intend to continue their cleanup along different stretches of the river . ▪
River Rats to the Rescue
Mitch Ransdell is Assistant Superintendent of Grove Maintenance . You may also recognize him as the actor portraying Robert Kennicott at many events at The Grove . Mitch is also a 2024 recipient of a Judy Beck Grant to support a local volunteer project affectionately named “ River Rats Cleanup ”.
Mitch Ransdell noticed the vast amount of garbage in the Des Plaines River while on a hike . He and a friend loaded their car with boots , pitchforks and milk crates and headed to Camp Pine Woods to begin cleaning the area . The trash included items dating to the 1940s and has become an eyesore for those exploring the area and an impediment to local wildlife . Having finished cleaning the Camp Pine Woods area , Mitch led volunteers to continue the work along the North Branch of the Chicago River .
Since the summer of 2023 , nine volunteers have pulled more than 300 pounds of garbage from the Des Plaines River . This trash included tires , golf balls , fishing lines , and hundreds of broken glass bottles , which lay mere inches below the water where kayakers , canoers and anglers recreate daily . Mitch purchased new wading boots and other equipment that helped the volunteers access deeper parts of the river with the help of a Judy Beck Grant .
Mitch Ransdell
Assistant Superintendent of Grove Maintenance
The Judy Beck Grant is available to non-profit groups or individuals with projects focusing on environmental conservation , sustainability , community engagement or youth development , and is awarded annually with funding provided by the Beck Family Foundation and Hurvis Families . The grant honors the legacy of Judy Beck , a dedicated environmentalist and natural resources commissioner who served as Park Board Commissioner at the Glenview Park District for 32 years .
The “ River Rats ” saw beavers , water snakes , kingfishers and numerous other wildlife that were long absent from the area . Now that the dams have been removed , the river is returning to its historic and natural state .
Many of the volunteers include Park District staff , local residents and Eagle Scouts who are passionate about the project , and include Issa Yoshino , Meredith Suangka , Wayne Rogoski , Jerry Sawyer , Charlie Trimarco , Steve Ransdell , Travis Morehead and Ernesto Sancen .
The River Rats recently completed their twelfth trip to the river and they intend to continue their cleanup along different stretches of the river . ▪
“ It ’ s been an honor to do our part ,” explained Mitch Ransdell . “ Cleaning up the Des Plaines River would not have been possible without the work of our volunteers and the support of the Judy Beck Grant .”