FRANCONIA, VA – It’s been a successful partnership for two years. Franconia Recreation Center and Operation Stream Shield are celebrating their second anniversary teaming up to enhance local environmental health, while supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. The anniversary event, known as Tape-a-Palooza, was held recently to remove leftover tape and ribbons from pavilions within the park, an effort to maintain cleanliness and aesthetics.

Operation Stream Shield, initiated in 2019 by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) in collaboration with the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH), employs guests from local shelters to improve water quality in streams by removing litter and controlling invasive species. The program has also expanded to include trail maintenance and park beautification projects.

Julie Margolis, Volunteer Coordinator at Franconia Recreation Center, emphasized the community's effort, stating, "Today we're with Operation Stream Shield with New Hope Housing, we're out here doing what we call Tape-a-Palooza, where we take all the tape and ribbons off of our picnic pavilions and get them ready for summer."

Robin Rueger, a volunteer since 2018, shared her pride in the project: "I love working on projects like Tape-a-Palooza, fixing up stuff around the park. It just gives me a sense of giving back to the community. I'm really proud of the work that we do."

The event concluded with a communal celebration, where volunteers enjoyed pizza and homemade peanut butter cookies provided by Margolis. Tape-a-Palooza not only serves as a cleanup event but also as a testament to the enduring partnership and community spirit fostered through Operation Stream Shield at Franconia Recreation Center.

For more information about Fairfax County's Operation Stream Shield, please visit Operation Stream Shield.