Service day planned Saturday

Published 12:10 am Saturday, April 13, 2013

With spring finally here, groups of church members and volunteers will be gathering around town today to spruce up and plant wild flowers in a city-wide Day of Service.
With the help of church members and volunteers, Burnt Corn Creek Park, Alco Family Park and the John L. Fisher Community Center will be cleaned up to be ready for use this summer.
Connie Baggett, program director for the City of Brewton, said the plans were made for the cleanup and planting with the help of a grant from International Paper.
“I found out about the grant just one day before it would have been too late,” Baggett said. “I quickly filled out grant papers and we received a grant of $1,000 to be used to plant wild flowers. We planned this day around the planting and decided to do some sprucing up.”
Baggett said local churches have some volunteers that have committed to go to the different parks to clean up, and the planting of the wild flowers will be along a one-third mile stretch along the boardwalk from Burnt Corn Creek Park to O’Bannon Park.
Volunteers from the Church of Latter Day Saints are also expected to volunteer at Burnt Corn Creek Park today. Other volunteers who want to help are encouraged to come to the park around 9:30 a.m. today.
Wildflowers will be planted according to a plan from design firm Goodwyn Mills and Cawood, which has been working on a plan for the city.
“The idea is to make the city look as aesthetically pleasing as possible,” Baggett said.
Baggett said groups working today will welcome anyone who would like to help. She also said the city is waiting for the governor to sign the legal papers that will allow the city to install lighting in the park.
The funds for the lighting will come from a $20,000 grant from the Department of Public Health to improve the health and welfare of the community.