Chelsea Area Friends for Recreation is spearheading a parks cleanup program in partnership with the City of Chelsea Parks & Rec Commission.
CAFR president Kristina Martin said that while the group’s mission is more event and activity based, when the opportunity to create a park maintenance corps arose, it seemed like a great fit.
“We recognized that creating free, fun events is only part of what we could do,” said Martin. “Caring for and sustaining these spaces ensures they remain welcoming and accessible for generations to come.”
Led by CAFR member Sarah Brigham Muñoz, the effort is focusing on spring cleanup in the parks and ongoing projects throughout the summer.
To date, volunteers have picked up trash, spread mulch, planted flowers, and washed picnic tables at Pierce Park and TimberTown Park. Plans are in the works for both the Dog Park and Veterans Park.
“The first clean up day at Pierce Park was amazing,” said Muñoz. “It was a learning curve to see how much work it is to spread mulch! But the girl scouts showed up ready to work and added a wonderful upgrade to our park for the summer.”
Staff from JD’s Stage Bistro, the CHS National Honor Society, and CAFR board members braved the rain for the TimberTown cleanup on Saturday, May 16.
“It was a small but mighty group,” said Muñoz.
The response from the community has been positive. So far this spring, Muñoz has coordinated workbees with the girl scouts, the DirtDogz baseball team, Kiwanis, and SRSLY.
Muñoz, a 2003 CHS graduate, said she wanted to contribute to her community by solving challenges she saw when visiting parks with her kids.
“I stopped asking ‘which organization is responsible for this park’ and looked for a way to contribute. I think it’s important to help shape the community you want to live in.”
“The city has been so supportive,” said Muñoz. “They are supplying anything we need for success — whether it’s 10 yards of mulch or soap, rags and buckets.”
Derik Bollinger, City of Chelsea’s Utilities Director, said that having volunteers help with simple park maintenance is really helpful.
“When these sorts of tasks are taken off of my team’s to-do list, it allows them to work on our many other park and city projects.”
For more information about how you or your organization can get involved, contact Muñoz at 734.649.0827 or visit www.CAFRChelsea.org.
