Cleaning up the open spaces

Residents can help local parks on Appreciation Day

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

The Gig Harbor and Key peninsulas boast a multitude of parks and open spaces for the public to enjoy, and on April 19, local residents will have their chance to give back to the park system during Parks Appreciation Day.

Volunteers can lend their skills and muscles to a variety of park projects, from cleaning up spits to beautifying forests.

The event will be presented by The City of Gig Harbor Parks Commission in partnership with PenMet Parks, KeyPen Parks and Tacoma Metro Parks.

Each area will have designated projects so residents can get involved.

Scott Gallagher, executive director for Key Peninsula Metropolitan Parks, said the park system logged about 150 hours of volunteer time last year.

“For our small park district, that’s equal to about $5,000 in labor costs,” he said. “With people showing up for just three hours, that’s a big factor. It’s spring cleanup time, and they really helped to beautify the parks for the season.”

Key Peninsula Metro Parks will have projects at the Purdy Sand Spit, Rocky Creek Conservation Area, Home Park and the Key Peninsula Civic Center.

Eric Guenther, recreation and special projects coordinator for PenMet Parks, said participants should bring gloves and garden tools. He also suggested if large groups plan to participate that they should call the parks department beforehand.

“This is a win-win situation because we get a lot of work done on the parks and make some improvements,” Guenther said. “People can come out, get some exercise and feel good both mentally and physically. Half of the value of getting people out there is giving them a chance to discover the parks. Every year I hear people say, ‘I had no idea this was here.’ ”

PenMet Parks will sponsor Parks Appreciation Day projects at the Arletta tennis courts, Hale Pass Community Center, Rosedale playfield, McCormick Forest, Sehmel Homestead Park, Wollochet Estuary, Cushman Trail, Narrows Park, Harbor Family Park, Fox Island Fishing Pier, Nichols Community Center and Crescent Lake Park.

The City of Gig Harbor will have projects from 9 a.m. to noon the same day at Adam Tallman Trail, Austin Estuary Park, Donkey Creek Park, Grandview Forest Park and Wilkinson Farm Park.

“The neat thing about this is that we get input from everyone, both the citizens and the staff, on projects that need to be done,” said Jacquie Goodwill, chairman of the Gig Harbor Parks Commission. “We had some parkgoers that noticed that the ivy was getting high on the trees, so one of our projects was to remove the ivy.”

Goodwill said that each year after parks appreciation day, specific results can be seen from participants’ work.

“At Austin Estuary Park, we made the park more usable,” she said. “We help ensure the ecology remains in balance and make sure invasive plants like ivy don’t take over the native plants.

“Every year the commitment to the city parks is growing,” Goodwill added. “We’ve had good support from walking groups and church organizations. You can see that the community is growing, especially in terms of parks.”

Reach reporter Susan Schell at 253-853-9240 or by e-mail at susan.schell@gateline.com.