Parks Board Chair Melanie Reimer was one of about a dozen volunteers during Parks Appreciation Day. The volunteers worked at Fountain Memorial Park, pruning, planting flowers and laying down fresh mulch.

Volunteers beautify city park

By Meghan Erkkinen

About a dozen volunteers turned out to spruce up Fountain Memorial Park for Parks Appreciation Day April 19. The group planted flowers, pruned bushes, laid down fresh mulch and generally spruced up the grounds.

The morning was cold and overcast and a few bursts of snow fell from the sky, which many suspected affected the turnout.

“Turnout was less than we hoped and I think that’s due to the weather,” said Kurt Reuter, parks and recreation director for the city.

Nonetheless, the dedicated group of volunteers managed to plant a dozen plats of flowers, which added color to the otherwise gloomy day.

“I take a lot of pride in our parks,” said Mayor Barry Johnson, one of the volunteers. “It’s just fantastic to see the parks we have now…It’s kind of our showcase.”

Melanie Reimer, chair of the Fife Parks Board, also volunteered her time.

“I think that beautifying our parks is really important for the community, and this park in particular because it’s a gateway to the community,” she said. “It’s just nice to give back.”

Residents John and Missy Fietz turned out for the event. John Fietz, a lifelong Fife resident, is a new member to the parks board and admitted, “I’ve got a little farmer in me.”

Councilmember Nancy de Booy was also there.

“It’s a community event and I’m very community minded,” she said. “I’ll do anything I can to have more and better parks for our community.”

Parks Appreciation Day was created by Metro Parks in Tacoma seven years ago in conjunction with the many events surrounding Arbor Day and Earth Day. This is Fife’s seventh year participating.

“This is the kind of work our crews don’t always get the chance to do,” Reuter said. “This gives us an opportunity to get all those little chores done.”

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