This column will be a little O/T — off topic. This year is the first time I’ve been involved with the Oconee River Greenway Foundation (ORGF). It’s been a very long time since I’ve been a volunteer with another organization besides ARF. I enjoy participating and helping. The timing, for me, was great because I was able to help a little bit with the grand opening. It felt good to be the plain ol’ volunteer taking direction from several who are a lot more qualified than I.

When I first started attending the ORGF meetings, I realized the magnitude of the endeavor of the Greenway. It’s huge! The park, as it is now, it just the beginning.

The park is beautiful, but it’s very new and needs all of us take care of it. There’s a sign at the entrance asking everyone to follow some simple and basic rules. The rules are there to remind us to respect the park and the river. The park is for all of us. We all need to help keep it clean. We all need to do our part in protecting it.

There are three doggy waste stations located along the Riverwalk for your convenience. There are a few simple rules for you and your dog(s). First is that your dog must be on a leash and that leash must be no longer than 6 feet in length. That means no expandable leashes. The expandable leash can cause harm to the plants when it gets tangled in the brush and in the wetland areas in particular. Another reason for a 6-foot leash is to keep your dog close to you. You need to respect the people walking, biking or rollerblading, just as they need to respect you. You need to clean up after your pet. You can’t do that if you can’t see where he is at the end of his 20 feet of leash.

The doggy waste stations were installed a few days before the grand opening and are being used. They contain bags to pick up not just after your dog, but you can use them to help keep the park clean. There’s a small trash receptacle attached to all three stations. These are used for all trash.

The grand opening of the Oconee River Greenway Riverwalk and Park was held Saturday. It was a busy day, full of excitement. Most of the volunteers were there by 9 a.m. setting up tables and making sure everything was ready for the grand opening. People started showing up by 9:30 a.m., and they kept coming!

People began arriving with their dogs on leashes (yeah!!). As I handed out programs, I let the dog people know about the doggy stations. All the dog owners were glad the stations were there, and one person said she always brings her own bags.

Sometimes I saw a bag or paper floating and as I started to grab it, someone else would get there before me. The people attending did not ignore trash! They picked it up.

The grand opening of the Riverwalk was a wonderful success. Many people were there for the first time and were amazed at the beauty of the park. There are places where you can sit and watch the river and have lunch. The field is big enough for children to play and run while families picnic.

This is a place where everyone can enjoy quiet time and play time, just a few minutes from downtown. Enjoy it, respect it and please help keep it clean.