Naperville Park District Participating in 2013 Gym Shoe Rescue

Have an old pair of sneakers laying around? 

The Naperville Park District is partnering with Players Indoor Sports Center and SCARCE (School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education) to host a community gym shoe collection this winter.

“This is a green initiative, with the intent to provide a convenient location for families and individuals participating in our indoor athletic programs to drop off gym shoes that are outgrown, worn out, or no longer needed,” said Sue Omanson, community development manager and member of the Naperville Park District’s Green Team in a release.

Gym shoes collected this winter will be added to the 2013 Gym Shoe Rescue conducted in April by SCARCE, a non-profit organization in DuPage County that helps communities recycle and conserve resources.

In 2012 the Gym Shoe Rescue coordinated by SCARCE sent 10,621 shoes to the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program, keeping them out of the landfill and using the materials to make new products.

Collection bins will be available at Players Indoor Sports Center, located at 1740 W. Quincy Ave. in Naperville, from Feb. 1 through March 3. Gym shoes in any condition are accepted, even single shoes, but no cleats or streetshoes. Pairs of gym shoes should be tied together by the laces, if possible; wearable shoes will be donated to local charities. 

“We appreciate being able to partner with Players Indoor Sports in this collection,” said program manager Brock Atwell in a release. “We hope that families who have children involved in our indoor soccer and lacrosse programs will take advantage of this opportunity to clean out their closets and participate in a positive community project,” he said. “Of course, everyone is welcome to drop off gym shoes, whether participating in programs or not.”

For more information, visit www.napervilleparks.org. To learn more about SCARCE, visit www.scarceecoed.org.

Submitted by the Naperville Park District