Parks clean up has a successful day

Kindra and Ben Weid and Manchester newcomer, “Robert” helped clean up brush at Carr Park. Photo courtesy Pat Vailliencourt.

“The weather really wasn’t bad at all,” said Village President Pat Vailliencourt. “It was not raining or snowing and not too cold.”

Perhaps Vailliencourt’s memory was slightly more thawed out by late Saturday afternoon, but a small and intrepid group of volunteers did a great job of making short work of the Parks Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 9 (where rain and snow were both spotted at some locations in the village).

Parks Commissioners Ruth Raleigh at Kirk Park and Stephanie Smith at Wurster Park, along with Christina Mersereau from Sharon Valley Bike Shoppe also turned out to help. Smith reported that although no one else was at Wurster during the 10 am to noon period that she was there, when she arrived someone had already been there and made several piles of brush. So many thanks to that unrenowned but much-appreciated volunteer!

It has also been requested that The Mirror remind the community that throwing cigarette butts is considered littering, and is subject to fines. Clean up crews reported that cigarette butts and discarded masks made up the largest percentage of trash collected throughout the day.

In addition, much broken glass was found in the area near where the ice rink was located this winter. Please dispose of all trash properly, year around! In the summer time, many residents enjoy spending time at the gazebo and many children may be playing in the park barefoot.

Parks Commissioner Sue Gleason did brush pickup at Chi-Bro Park. Photo by Pat Vailliencourt.

Aaron Bushaw added to the cleanup crew at Chi-Bro. Photo by Pat Vailliencourt.

Dwayne Vailliencourt helped out at Chi-Bro and River Raisin Parks. Photo by Pat Vailliencourt

Denise Collins and Henry Bushaw volunteered for park cleanup day at Chi-Bro and River Raisin Parks. Photo by Pat Vailliencourt.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.