Community spiffier after Service Day

[May 02, 2015]  LINCOLN - You might take note as you drive around town this week at how nice things look. Specifically, several of the parks and downtown areas were primped and spruced up by volunteers on Wednesday.

Last Saturday when the work was scheduled to take place, turned out to be a cold rainy day. Postponment of the Community Service Day from Saturday to Wednesday proved a wise choice. Mostly sunny skies, 70 degree temperatures and no wind made for an envious day to be outdoors doing a little work.

Starting about 3 p.m., student volunteers from Lincoln Christian University and the community dug in, litteraly. The primary work for the day was cleaning and weeding flowerbeds, and then adding mulch.

In Mayfair's Allison Park on the east edge of town, Lincoln Aldermen Jeff Hoinacki, Marty Neitzel, and student leader Jordan Ryherd led a group cleaning and weeding flowerbeds, and then adding mulch.

At historic Postville Park, Judy Monts and student leader Ryder Mills led a group doing the same.

Nearer to the center of town, at Ray White Park and at nearby Melrose Park, Ed Tibbits was assisted by student Mishel Browning leading a group.

Downtown, the 200 block of N. Kickapoo Street around the city utility payment boxes and recycling center, property around the Depot with its historic Abraham Lincoln Christening sites, were freshend up. Keith Snyder and student Chris Harness were in the lead. Mitch Nelson also served as a student leader.

The same work was also conducted at Shay Parking Lot, and at the corner of Hamilton and N. McLean Streets.

One project was conducted indoors at the Hamilton Street City Garage. Bill Vinyard, Mark Leslie, and student leader Lindsey Ballard led in the painting restoration of some of the city's “Welcome” signs.

The afternoon's work was concluded with a relaxing volunteer appreciation cookout featuring brats at Ray White Park.

A lot of work around the city was completed in short order with the help of the Lincoln Christian University students and all the community leaders that pitched in. The community can also thank Kathy Vinyard for her work in organizing everything and the Lincoln Street Department for their assistance in setting up and delivering mulch to various locations.

[Jan Youngquist]