Spring started to show its true colors Saturday, providing the ideal opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. Friends of the Mansfield Parks (FOMP) was among those taking advantage of the nice weather at Maple Lake Park in Mansfield, where the group did some spring cleaning.
At 9 a.m. on Saturday, about 11 volunteers with FOMP convened at Maple Lake Park to carry out various projects, such as raking leaves, collecting and removing trash, and painting benches and table tops.
Doug Versaw, FOMP vice president, explained that FOMP helps to assist the Mansfield Parks Department, which has experienced budget cuts in recent years.
“It’s been tough over the last few years with the economy, and the budgets for the parks department have been very small, just enough to mow, so we’ve been trying to fill in for the parks and help out the parks by cleaning up and doing the things that they can’t do,” Versaw said.
FOMP, now in its sixth year, is a project of Downtown Mansfield, Inc. Every spring, volunteers are rounded up to help beautify the Mansfield parks. People still have a chance to participate in future park clean-up projects, which will be from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. every Saturday through May 17.
FOMP will be at South Park on April 19, North Lake Park on April 26, Middle Park on May 3, and South, North Lake and Central parks on May 10 and May 17.
Helping serve the community by cleaning up the parks can be a family event, as seen with Karie Moore, who brought her family out to Maple Lake Park to volunteer. She said, “I think if we live in the community, it’s important to take care of it.”
People also have the opportunity to help serve by donating to FOMP. Ten dollars will help purchase one flat of flowers and $250 will cover the cost of all the flowers at one of the parks. To donate, click here, or send the donation via mail to Downtown Mansfield, Inc., 101 ½ N. Main St., Mansfield, OH, 44902.
Volunteer with FOMP, Dalton Derr, noted that FOMP planted 1,000 tulips in South Park last fall through the generous contribution of others.
“We’re trying to bring vitality to the community and show our parks as a place of pride,” Derr said.
“It’s been tough over the last few years with the economy, and the budgets for the parks department have been very small, just enough to mow, so we’ve been trying to fill in for the parks and help out the parks by cleaning up and doing the things that they can’t do,” Doug Versaw said.
