Friends of the Park Day brings hundreds of volunteers to parks

Hundreds of people came out on Saturday to spruce up Cape Girardeau's parks.

Fort D, May Greene Garden, Capaha, Kiwanis, Arena, Washington and Missouri parks and the Jaycee Municipal Golf Course were among those areas receiving maintenance and cleanup as part of the annual Friends of the Park Day.

"About 300 came out today," said parks division manager Brock Davis. "That's up from last year's 250. Even though it rained last year, attendance also depends a lot on how you hit it with other schedules."

Davis said that of the 12 organizations signed up, nine turned out.

Director of parks and recreation Dan Muser said that although the day of volunteer support at city parks began more than two decades ago on Earth Day, it was happenstance that scheduling fell on Earth Day today. With a lot of scheduled events happening at parks in the city, "it was just easier to block this one out," he said.

Westminster youth group had just received orders from Davis and were setting out to do their jobs under the direction of adult leader Nancy Jernigan. "The groups show up, register, get their T-shirts and go to work," said Davis.

The volunteer labor makes an easier job for the city of Cape Girardeau while fulfilling volunteer hours for various groups. Davis said that the mulching, wood watersealing, pool maintenance and some of the planting of flowers might not get done if it weren't for the annual volunteer effort.

Muser and park board member Bruce Utley said people go out of their way to help. Muser said there's been no budget money for more than a decade. "We rely heavily on organizations that make these donations of time and energy," he said.

A musical fraternity at Southeast Missouri State University slipped and slid to scrub and hose the pool. Group members fly kites, hold functions and park vehicles throughout the year at Capaha Park. They wanted to be assigned to Capaha Park. Member Megan Burgess explained that they're fulfilling service hours for the semester but as a recreation major, Burgess knows the workload is overwhelming and feels they might as well help.

Southeast biology club and student government members mulched and weeded the rose garden. Student government member Heather Valle said she comes out for the initiative of doing community service. "If you're going to be in student government, you're going to be involved in the community," she said.

cpagano@semissourian.com

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