It was a much more low-key event than past years, which was just fine for Nichole Marples and her host team from 91原创 Environmental Partners Society.

With Township of 91原创 backing away as co-hosts of the annual fall Rivers Day festivities, and coming off a two-year hiatus due to COVID, it was time for LEPS to return to a smaller scale event, said Marples, executive director of the environmental stewardship organization.

That was the case on Sunday, Sept. 25, with the introduction of a rebranded environmental event called 91原创 World River鈥檚 Day.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a little bit of a return to our roots, which we鈥檙e pretty excited about,鈥� Marples said, calling it a 鈥渟low but steady day鈥� with about 200 guests visiting 15 interactive exhibits set up by local stewardship groups and LEPS partners.

In past, Rivers Day festivities were held at Williams Park. But it was growing too big and becoming too busy for the pristine riverside forest, Marples explained.

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So the decision was made in 2015 to move the festivities to the new and much larger and more central Derek Doubleday Arbouretum.

Pre-pandemic, she said attendance at the arbouretum was getting up around 1,600, and there was a lot of coordination required with more booths, a stage with non-stop live entertainment, and even a shuttle service engaged to get people in and out the park.

While Marples鈥� predicted that about 200 to 250 people would come out this year, she knows future Rivers Day events in 91原创 鈥� which she expects will continue at Williams Park 鈥� will start to grow back.

鈥淟et鈥檚 call this a gentle return, with people taking the time to explore and appreciate the natural environment here in 91原创 and enjoy the Salmon River.鈥�

With activities dispersed throughout the park, guests were encouraged to follow a trail that looped through the forested area, along the river鈥檚 edge, and past the outdoor school set up year round in Williams Park.

鈥淓veryone really likes Williams Park. It鈥檚 great,鈥� Marples said, watching several families exiting with smiles on their faces.

鈥淚t鈥檚 got the Salmon River, and it鈥檚 one of the prime salmon spawning streams in 91原创,鈥� which is a perfect backdrop 鈥� she said 鈥� for future World鈥檚 Rivers Day celebrations.

鈥淥verall, I鈥檝e been really happy,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a nice, chill day at the park.鈥�

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