While enjoying a walk on the Cherry Creek trail recently, my fiance and I noticed an older gentleman had a plastic trash bag and was filling it with paper, bottles and other debris found along the pathway, no matter how filthy. We had just picked up some trash and placed it in the convenient and frequently occurring attractive trash containers along the trail.
We thanked the man for what he was doing, and he shared that he’d been doing this every day for six years, because “Cherry Creek is the most beautiful place in Denver, and if I didn’t do it, this place would look like the city dump.” I asked if he had noticed others picking up trash, and he replied, “Nope. If they did, then I could let them do the cleanup.”
When we asked his name, he replied, “Gregory Rushmore, but my friends call me Raisins.” As for his age, he declared that he’d be 67 years old in a few days. Bravo to this local unsung hero, who has made the trail near 13th and Speer — and beyond — such a lovely place to enjoy for so many who live or visit here.
Lorna Gail LaDage, Denver
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