Crater of Diamonds to host Great Arkansas Cleanup event

By Waymon Cox

 Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! This summer, people from all over the country have mined for diamonds in our search area. Some have taken home Crater rocks, minerals, and diamonds, while others have found treasured experiences on our trails, in our campground, and at Diamond Springs Water Park.

 Unfortunately, many of our visitors have also discovered litter that has been discarded carelessly around our diamond search area. Though we work hard to keep the park tidy and prevent litter, it is an ongoing campaign to educate visitors and help them make conscious decisions to recycle or dispose of trash properly. Whenever a park visitor litters, not only does it tarnish the natural beauty of our park, it may also harm area wildlife or be buried when we plow the search area, making it more difficult to find and remove.

 The Crater of Diamonds is a major destination for many travelers in Arkansas, and the encounters people have here reflect upon our local communities. To improve the overall experience of our park visitors, on Saturday, September 10, Crater of Diamonds State Park will host its fourth annual Great Crater Cleanup, from 1 - 3:30 p.m., in conjunction with the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission’s 2011 Great Arkansas Cleanup! In case of rain, we will postpone the event until Saturday, September 17.

 Gloves and trash bags will be provided for all volunteers. There will also be refreshments and prizes, and Great Arkansas Cleanup t-shirts will be given away while supplies last.

 Scouts, schools, businesses, and other organizations with a team of five or more attending at this event should call the park at 870-285-3116 by September 5 to register as a group. Individuals, families, friends, and groups are all invited to come help the Crater shine like a diamond this September!

Search area last plowed: July 19, 2011

Most recent significant precipitation: August 25, 2011

Diamond finds for August 21 - 27, 2011 (100 points = one carat):

No diamonds found August 21.

August 22 - Jim Graham, Prescott, AR, 22 pt. white

August 24 - Jerry & Valerie Williams, Elkhart, IN, 44 pt. yellow; David Miller, Jenks, OK, 8 pt. white