FRIENDS OF THE PARK DAY PLANNED

If you've never painted a pool, waxed playground equipment or planted flowers and think it's time you did so Saturday is your chance.

Friends of the Park Day is an annual effort by the Cape Girardeau Parks & Recreation Department to recruit volunteers to help beautify the city parks, specifically Capaha Park.

About 700 people are expected to participate Saturday, said Penny Wingerter, recreation coordinator for the city's Parks & Recreation Department.

"It's all about the community being responsible," said Wingerter. "It's definitely a way for people to contribute."

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Capaha Park. It's an effort to fix up the park through needed repairs and ground work.

The volunteer labor saves on labor costs for the city but also helps create a sense of community pride, she said. More volunteers are needed.

"Capaha Park is probably one of the most utilized parks in the city. It's centrally located, so it's important the grounds are well-maintained," Wingerter said.

The event, she said, "is the community supporting the community. People will be coming out and helping our staff get the parks prepared for summer."

Many Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops participate in the event, Wingerter said, but individuals and families are also encouraged to get involved. Last year, despite rainy weather, about 500 people turned out to volunteer. Friends of the Park Day is now in its seventh year.

Large groups that want to participate should call the Park & Recreation Department, 335-5421, to register.

All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt, breakfast and lunch, paid for by sponsors of the event. Breakfast will be provided by St. Francis Medical Center and lunch by Schnucks. Southeast Missouri Hospital will supply first aid.

Other business sponsors are Venture, Sherwin-Williams, J.C. Penney, KZIM, Horizon Screen Printing, Capital Bank, Cape Toyota and Outdoor Communications.

Wingerter said volunteer workers will be supervised by Parks & Recreation Department staff members. All supplies will be provided by the city.

"We're not just going to tell them what needs to be done and send them out to do it," Wingerter said. "We'll have our staff there to help out."

Community pride is also a goal of the event.

"We think that when a person works toward cleaning up the park, they are less apt to throw that piece of trash down later," she said. "And for a lot of people, they are proud of the fact that they helped to plant those flowers or fix up that playground equipment.

Registration will begin at about 8:30, and participants can grab breakfast before they begin their tasks. Lunch begins at 11 a.m. Some workers will be sent to work at other city parks if enough people turn out for the event, Wingerter said.