COEUR d'ALENE — Zech Pugh was dressed as Ash Ketchum, the protagonist of the "Pokemon" animated series, Wednesday at McEuen Park, fully prepared to continue on his quest to be the best Pokemon trainer there ever was.

"Every time I go out, I'm dressed like this," Pugh, 20, said. "It's my Pokemon gear."

More than 100 other trainers, all fans of the hit smartphone game "Pokemon Go," joined Pugh at the park for a meetup and trash pickup drive organized through Facebook. Trainers of all ages were welcome at the Avista Pavillion, and there was the incentive of extra raffle tickets provided to those who filled their garbage bags with trash while walking through downtown or along Tubbs Hill.

"We're out in the public anyways to play the game, we might as well help out too," said Matthew Krous, Pugh's 21-year-old roommate.

The event was organized by Arwyn Labolle, a 24-year-old Post Falls resident who told The Press she heard of a similar event in Spokane and wanted to bring the blend of gaming and community service to the Lake City. Labolle added she was impressed by the huge amount of interest the event received on social media and astonished by the fact that seven local businesses were eager to donate raffle prizes and pizza.

"Service is important because we want Pokemon trainers to not be seen as a nuisance," said Labolle, who was dressed as Misty, another popular character from the show. "We're not just a bunch of kids playing a game — we're a conglomerate, we're a community."

Lisa Colby, a Coeur d'Alene resident, was at the meetup with her daughter, Isabel, and her daughter's boyfriend. She told The Press she remembers getting the Pokemon video games and collectible cards for her kids when they were little. She is enjoying the resurgence of Pokemon.

"I like that it's getting kids outside," Colby said. "Anything that does that in a healthy way is important."

"Part of the reason Coeur d'Alene is so popular is because of the scenery, so it's good to get out here and keep that scenery clean and pretty," Isabel, 18, added.

After the trash pickup was completed, there was a Battle Royale at the park for trainers eager to test their mettle against one another. Once trainers earned their bragging rights, they all met back at the pavilion where Labolle announced the winners of the raffle.

Jessica Bonar, a Hayden resident who is friends with Labolle, offered to volunteer at the event and brought her two boys along for the fun. She said her oldest son has been a fan of Pokemon for more than a decade, and at one point his room was painted to look like a Pokeball, the devices used to capture the animated creatures.

"He's passed the room, and his love of it, on to his little brother," Bonar said. "I just love that we're all out here experiencing the community we live in with this game and that we get to give back at the same time."

Labolle said because of the huge turnout and interest in the event, she might attempt to host another in the future.

"We're really establishing that community factor here," Labolle said. "We're not just a fad or a phenomenon — we're people who are passionate about this game."