SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Indians traded the baseball field for the riverbank as the organization partnered with Spokane Riverkeeper for the annual Redband Rally River Cleanup, bringing together staff, volunteers and community members to help protect the Spokane River.
Volunteers gathered at Redband Park to collect trash and debris while raising awareness about the importance of preserving the river and its native Redband trout. The cleanup featured both morning and afternoon sessions, continuing a tradition that has become a staple of the organization’s summer community outreach.
Spokane Indians Senior Vice President Otto Klein said the event is another way the club stays connected with the community during baseball season.
“It’s summer, it’s baseball, it’s Spokane Indians baseball,” Klein said. “The team’s on the road for a little bit, so we have time to put on events like this.”
Klein said the strong turnout reflects the relationship the Indians have built with fans throughout the Inland Northwest.
“We want to be the leaders,” Klein said. “If we yell from the rooftop, people listen. It’s great that our fans showed up, it’s great that our staff is here, and it’s great that we were able to bring partners here. We want to make sure people have a platform to do great things for our community.”
The event is held in partnership with Spokane Riverkeeper, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the Spokane River and its surrounding watershed.
River Cleanup and Outreach Lead Liv Kindle said the partnership has grown beyond a single cleanup day. Funding from the Spokane Indians’ Redband Rally Fund has helped the organization expand its cleanup efforts year-round by providing equipment such as dry suits and winter boating gear.
“You can see the difference in the river year over year, which has been amazing,” Kindle said.
Kindle said partnerships with community organizations like the Spokane Indians are critical for a small nonprofit.
“Having our community partners is really what gives Spokane Riverkeeper reach in this watershed,” she said. “It gives us so much more power to create change and do better in our community.”
In addition to organizing river cleanups, Spokane Riverkeeper conducts water quality testing, supports community science initiatives and works to enforce clean water protections throughout the basin.
The annual Redband Rally River Cleanup continues to serve as one of the Spokane Indians’ signature community events, combining environmental stewardship with the organization’s commitment to giving back beyond the game.
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