When nature calls…. for a little spring cleanup, Battle Ground volunteers answer! On April 23, nearly 100 volunteers reported to six parks across the city for the annual Pak Appreciation Day event.
Park Appreciation Day celebrates Volunteer Appreciation Month and Earth Day, and is a great way for the community to gather together to help support parks and keep Battle Ground beautiful. Volunteers performed several tasks including raking leaves, clearing branches, weeding flowerbeds and cleaning playground equipment.
Several groups and organizations, who have adopted the parks through the city’s Adopt-A-Park program, hosted the volunteer ‘work parties’. The groups and parks involved in this year’s event included:
• American Heritage Girls Troop WA 1031 - McConnell Park (Adopted January 2022)
• Battle Ground Lions Club - Florence Robison North Park (Adopted August 2019)
• Cub Scout Pack #443 - Fairground Park (Adopted July 2019)
• IQ Credit Union - Kiwanis Park (Adopted August 2020)
• Lewis River Rotary Club - Central Park (Adopted November 2020)
• Moms Club of Battle Ground - Florence Robison South Park (Adopted January 2022)
“Our troop adopted McConnell Park as a way to give back to our community. We are hopeful that it will provide an ongoing service opportunity for our members, establishing a legacy for our troop in Battle Ground”, said Trish Lusher of the American Heritage Girls Troop WA 1031.
Bev Jones of the Battle Ground Lions Club shared, “Our group is small, but mighty! Together we strive to work hard for our community.”
Battle Ground has a long history of volunteerism; this event is just one of the many ways our citizens get involved year after year. Kim Cederholm, Recreation and Facilities Manager, said, “I was impressed with the turn out; not only with the work that was being done, but with the sense of community the volunteers shared.”
It is evident, with the number of youth centered groups participating in this year’s event, the volunteer spirit is sure to continue for generations to come.