8-Year-Old Cleans Up New Jersey Park One Piece of Trash at a Time

Alina Colon takes action to beautify her local community park

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extremely blurred, atmospheric photograph showing the faint outline of a young girl holding a litter-picking stick in a park setting, surrounded by soft, out-of-focus greenery and natural light.An 8-year-old's simple act of community service inspires hope and pride in her local neighborhood.Manville Today

Alina Colon, an 8-year-old girl from Manville, New Jersey, has taken it upon herself to clean up Dukes Park in her community. Noticing an accumulation of trash and debris, Colon approached her father and asked if they could work together to clean up the park. With her father's support, Colon has been regularly visiting the park and filling up bags of collected litter, demonstrating her commitment to improving her local environment.

Why it matters

Colon's actions highlight the power of individual initiative and community engagement, especially from young people, in addressing local environmental issues. Her story inspires others to take similar steps to beautify their neighborhoods and take pride in their surroundings.

The details

Colon first noticed the trash and debris in Dukes Park, a favorite spot near the Raritan River, and decided she wanted to do something about it. She asked her father if they could clean up the park, and he provided her with sticks to help with the task. On their first day, Colon and her father filled up two bags of collected litter. This is not the first time Colon has shown her community spirit - she has previously sold hot chocolate to raise money for the local fire department, and she plans to set up a lemonade stand this summer to raise funds for the police department.

  • Colon first noticed the trash in Dukes Park and decided to take action.
  • Colon and her father went to the park and filled up two bags of litter on their first day of cleaning.

The players

Alina Colon

An 8-year-old girl from Manville, New Jersey, who has taken it upon herself to clean up Dukes Park in her community.

Anthony Colon

Alina Colon's father, who has supported her in her efforts to clean up the park.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I really like how it's big and open, you don't know where it's going to go.”

— Alina Colon

“And what really drove the point home that she was serious was when we got the sticks, she was like 'So when are we going?' We got out here, we got busy, and we filled up two bags on the first day.”

— Anthony Colon, Alina Colon's father

“She sold hot chocolate to raise money for the fire department one year. This is just the kind of person she is.”

— Anthony Colon, Alina Colon's father

“I'm just very proud she took it upon herself to notice something needed to be done and she was willing to do it.”

— Anthony Colon, Alina Colon's father

“Yeah, I want to do it because I know it's the right thing to do.”

— Alina Colon

What’s next

Colon plans to set up a lemonade stand this summer to raise money for the local police department, continuing her efforts to support her community.

The takeaway

Colon's story demonstrates the power of individual initiative, especially from young people, in addressing local environmental and community issues. Her actions inspire others to take similar steps to improve their neighborhoods and take pride in their surroundings.