FILE PHOTO

APRIL 19 IS PARKS APPRECIATION DAY, AND IN HONOR OF IT, THE CITIES OF FIFE AND MILTON ARE ORGANIZING EVENTS FOR RESIDENTS TO COME OUT AND BEAUTIFY SOME PARKS. In Milton, the event will take place at Triangle Park, above.

Parks Appreciation Day a chance to give back

By Tiffany Richards

In the words of Fife’s Parks, Recreation, and Community Director Kurt Reuter, it is time for the community to come out and “give the parks a spring cleaning.” On April 19, the citizens of Pierce County will have a chance to do just that.

In 52 sites throughout the county, residents of all ages will be able to trim limbs, comb beaches, and plant more flowers and trees from 9 a.m. to noon at local parks for Parks Appreciation Day.

“The event is geared to cultivate understanding, knowledge and ownership among the community members about their local parks,” said Brent Thompson, who oversees parks and facilities maintenance for the city of Milton. “People assume parks are the way they are naturally, rarely thinking about what it takes to maintain them.”

Created by Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma seven years ago in conjunction with the many environmental events surrounding widely recognized Arbor Day and Earth Day, the Parks Appreciation Day clean up is observed by 13 Pierce County municipalities, including Fife and Milton.

And in the spirit of the environmental conscience, eco-friendly products will be utilized for the event.

“We will be using mulch and compost, as well as pulling out weeds by hand, as opposed to using more harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides,” Reuter said.

Not only will the event result in a positive environmental impact for the parks and their communities, it also has the potential to benefit the residents who live around these parks.

“Life just happens in parks. People want a safe place to relax, or socialize, or to take their kids. This event will help further these activities,” said Thompson.

Residents of Milton are encouraged to come out to Triangle Park and Fife residents are encouraged to come out to either Fountain Memorial Park or Milgard Nature Area from 9 a.m. to noon on April 19.

Please wear weather appropriate, work appropriate attire to the event, and bring some gardening tools from home to help with the clean up of each park. Everyone is encouraged to label all their items so they know what belongs to whom.

And in the spirit of all our holidays when the environment is number one in our hearts and minds, all volunteers are encouraged to carpool to their respective sites.

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