For more than two decades, a nonprofit organization dedicated to safeguarding the cherished Red Rocks Park Amphitheatre has been diligently working behind the scenes. Comprising volunteers with a passion for preserving the allure of Red Rocks, the group, known as Friends of Red Rocks, was established in 1999. This initiative arose in response to a proposal that aimed to transform the areas beside the regular seating into corporate box seats, projecting corporate logos onto the rocks for fundraising purposes.
Interestingly, the group identified a discreet yet impactful way to contribute. About three years ago, venue director Tad Bowman highlighted the issue of gum accumulation under the seats. Volunteers, recognizing an opportunity to make a positive difference, dedicated approximately three hours each month to assist rangers in various tasks. This included trail maintenance, cleanup efforts, tending to the native garden, and the unique task of scraping gum — strictly prohibited at the venue — off the undersides of the seats.
Despite the ban on gum within the amphitheater, the challenge lies in preventing individuals from carrying it in their purses or pockets. The hope is that people will chew responsibly and dispose of it properly instead of sticking it under the seats. The gum-scraping crew manages to accumulate several pounds of gum monthly, even during concert-free winter months, with a total of 50 pounds collected in 2023.
The organization is continually seeking additional volunteers to join their efforts. Interested individuals can find information and sign up online or attend cleanup sessions, held on the last Saturday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the upper north parking lot.
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