FRIENDS OF PARK DAY SET APRIL 20; VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT TO SPRUCE UP CITY

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Volunteers are needed to assist the city's Parks and Recreation Department and the Chamber of Commerce with the annual Help Cape Shine effort.

Planting flowers and rose bushes and picking up trash are just a few of the projects scheduled throughout the month to help make Cape Girardeau a little brighter.

Dan Brase, of the Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee, said the project, now in its sixth year, could contribute to the city's economic growth.

"I think it makes the average person aware of the fact that if they improve their property, it will have a snowball effect," Brase said. "Outside travelers and prospective businesses look at the way people take care of their city. If it looks good, there's more of an incentive for them to locate here."

In addition to being Help Cape Shine month, April is also Missouri Beautification month.

Though residents are encouraged to spruce up their own property, a large part of the clean-up effort will take place at the city parks.

The annual Friends of the Park Day, which will be held April 20, normally draws between 400 and 600 volunteers, said Rosie Gottlieb of the Parks and Recreation Department.

"It not only improves pride in the city, it also improves the look of the park for everyone to enjoy in the spring and summer," Gottlieb said. "It's really a community project."

Volunteers will meet at Capaha Park from 8 a.m. to noon on Friends of the Park Day and help plant rose bushes, flowers, trees, and do a general clean-up of the area, Gottlieb said. Groups or individuals interested in helping should contact Gottlieb at the Parks Department at 335-5421.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided and everyone who volunteers will receive a free t-shirt.

Dennis Scivally Park will also be the site of flower planting, Gottlieb said.

"We also have groups who can't make it on that day volunteer to do other things throughout the month," she said.

Also during the month, Vision 2000 will continue their rose planting projects, Brase said.

To encourage residents to spruce up their homes, the city's Public Works Department will set out public dumpsters in five locations on April 13 and 27 to dispose of unwanted items.

They will be located in the parking lots of Lowells Jewelers and Distributors, Schnucks, DuShell's Furniture on William, Food Giant on north Kingshighway and the Main Street parking lot.

Contributors for the Friends of the Park Day are Schnucks, Pepsi, Southeast Missouri Hospital, St. Francis Medical Center, JC Penney, Boatmen's Bank, the Chamber of Commerce, Outdoor Communication, Venture, Wal Mart, Exchange Club, Sherwin Williams, Excelsior Optimists, Amerifirst Bank, Capital Bank and Custom Screen Printing.