By Kristle Roennpagel
NORTH BLENHEIM — On a crisp spring morning, over 75 volunteers of all ages gathered at Minekill State Park for the highly anticipated “Clean Up the Park Day” event. Led by Amanda Young, one of the park’s newest environmental educators, the event aimed to bring the community together to make a positive impact on the environment.
Amanda, who joined the Minekill State Park team just a month ago, was thrilled to see such an impressive turnout. “It’s amazing to see so many people from different walks of life come together for a common cause,” she said. “Today is not just about cleaning up the park, it’s about building a sense of community and responsibility towards our environment.”
The volunteers, ranging from seasoned environmentalists to young families and school groups and of course Girl Scouts, all eager to get started. Armed with trash bags, gloves, and a determination to make a difference, they set out to tackle the park’s trails, painting guard rails, and picnic areas.
Among the volunteers were seasoned veterans who had been participating in the event for over 30 years. “I’ve been coming to this park since I was a kid,” said one volunteer. “It’s amazing to see how it’s changed over the years, and I’m proud to be a part of keeping it beautiful.”
Others had visited the park during their school years and had returned every year since to help with the cleanup. “It’s become a tradition for our family,” said another volunteer. “We love giving back to the park that has given us so many wonderful memories.”
Throughout the day, the volunteers collected countless bags of trash, removed invasive species, and even planted new trees and flowers. The sense of accomplishment was palpable as the group came together to admire their handiwork.
Amanda Young beamed with pride as she looked out at the sea of volunteers. “Today is a testament to the power of community and the impact we can have when we work together towards a common goal,” she said. “I’m so grateful to be a part of this team and to have such an amazing group of volunteers.”
As the event came to a close, the volunteers left with a sense of pride and accomplishment, knowing that their efforts would help preserve the beauty of Minekill State Park for generations to come. And Amanda Young, well, she was already planning next year’s event, eager to continue building on the momentum and making a difference in her new community.