Park Partners

Author: Amy L. Dombro

The neighborhood park across the street from our home is a celebration of the earth¹s seasons and a family treasure we often took for granted. We’d welcome windy spring days by flying kites in the park’s wide-open space. We’d welcome summer with sports league games and team cookouts, and quality time with dad as we kicked around the soccer ball. And we’d welcome winter with sled races and outdoor ice skating.

From the hill above the athletic fields, we were often awestruck by the black clouds of approaching storms and the hues of autumn sunsets.

So when I read a newspaper article about the new Park Partners Program, which asked for volunteers to help in the maintenance of the city parks, I knew I had found a small way for our family to show God we appreciate the gift of our neighborhood park.

“We could help pick up the discarded candy wrappers, food and beverage containers, and other litter that were giving our park an ugly face,” I thought to myself.

I approached the kids with the idea.

“What do you think about joining the new Park Partners Program?” I asked.

“These people using all this stuff, why don¹t they just throw it away themselves?” ten-year old Erica replied.

“I don¹t like garbage because it¹s stinky,” eight-year old Joe chimed in.

“We can show God our gratitude for the park by giving back to Him. He asks us to watch over and care for His creation. The park is our home to keep clean, like our bedrooms.”

“I don¹t like cleaning up my room Mom, but it sure feels good when it¹s done,” six-year-old Audrey replied.

We met with the director of the park staff and signed an agreement to collect litter for one year. Supplied with cloth work gloves (the children loved these) and plastic bags from the park staff, we walked the eight-acre park for at least one hour a month.

The children made this a fun service project.

Audrey was our self-designated drink container collector. With her regular assortment of cans, bottles, and paper cups with lids and straws still intact, she told me, “I am surprised by what people drink.”

Joe, on a mission to retrieve the smallest pieces of paper gone astray, would step ever so carefully among the ornamental bushes and rose gardens.

Erica was most intrigued by the clues into the daily lives of other people, such as grocery lists, room measurements, telephone numbers, and “To do” lists.

The children were proud to return lost soccer balls and baseballs to the park staff, and excited that they got to keep some of their finds, such as two little rubber balls, a paintbrush, balloons, and a Lego piece.

With friends helping on some days, playtime in the park afterwards on other days, and promises of an extra dessert every now and then, we made it through our year long commitment.

On our last scheduled volunteer day, the director of the park staff gave us many words of thanks, and even promised to put a garbage can near the bus stop. With her broad smile, she also sent a valuable message to my children—by sharing their love for God¹s creation, they could make others happy too.

Performing a regular task in the service of God is a challenge, and the children’s spirits did wane from time to time. Like when the annual neighborhood festival came to the park with games, rides, food, and plenty of litter. But overall, it was a good experience and a valuable life lesson.

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