So many of our neighborhood parks are taken for granted, and some have become dumping grounds for illegal waste.
Saturday marks the beginning of a week-long take back of city parks, and it all starts with a little TLC from you.
More than 150 volunteers worked together to give Tacony Creek Park a fresh look as part of "Love Your Park Week". It is 8 days of citywide service to clean and literally "green" more than 90 Philadelphia parks.
Last year, more than 2,400 bags of trash were removed from city parks, and that was just in one day.
This year, beautifying local parks will last a week, and organizers hope to double that number.
Community leaders say this is all part of a much bigger effort to preserve and celebrate our large urban forests.
"The more time people spend in the park, the safer they are, so there is a direct correlation between usage and safety and usage and stewardship," says Michael DiBeradinis.
More than 2,000 residents with their gloves and supplies in hand, will help get rid of debris and plant flowers and trees.
They will also clean up litter along some of the creek beds.
While you clean, be rewarded. Throughout the week, there will be more than 50 fun events planned in the parks, from community fairs, movie night and a Philly Pep Rally.
"Our hope is that while promoting all of our wonderful parks and programming, these great events, people will come out to experience the neighborhood," said Jennifer Mahar.
"Love Your Park Week" lasts through next Saturday, May 19th.
If you would like to help spruce up some of our natural and recreational treasures, visit the links below.
http://loveyourpark.org/
http://philadelphiagreen.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/love-your-park-all-week-long/
