Saratoga volunteers honored
Lance Madigan - North county staff
What can a city do when they have land set aside for a park, but no money for development?
Cash-strapped Saratoga Springs faced this problem as residents clamored to have their promised parks finished, yet budget cuts forced completion of the parks to be pushed way down on the priority list.
Having had many citizens say they would volunteer to help, the City Council and Mayor Tim Parker asked the administration to investigate the possibility of having a citizen corp do at least some work in the parks.
The idea was hardly new, but is often overlooked because of concerns about liability for workers as well as having volunteers with more enthusiasm than skill sets -- thereby causing a city more work and cost when they have to fix something that wasn't put in correctly in the first place.
However, with some careful management and creativity, Mark Edwards, Saratoga Springs public works director, reported to the City Council on Dec. 9 that both the Saratoga Hills and Dalmore Meadows parks were completed this year.
"Lot of residents came together to help with Saratoga Hills and Dalmore Meadows parks," Edwards said. "Three Eagle Scouts were very instrumental in this, along with the [Harvest Hills Fourth Ward] Young Women's group and lots of unnamed people that come out. All together hundreds of volunteers helped out."
The three Eagle Scouts included Joshua Anderson and Parker Jones (Troop 1059) and Derek Bayles (Troop 180). Each of these boys worked with Edwards and another volunteer, Cecil Tuley, to get volunteers out and coordinate their efforts.
"So the city didn't have the money to finish the parks, but said that if they had volunteers that they would supply the materials," said Jones, age 15. "So I volunteered to do the trees because I live near the park."
Jones said his group put in 48 trees of different varieties throughout the Saratoga Hills Park. It took the more than 60 volunteers about four hours, but everyone was excited by the results.
"I organized laying of sod for Saratoga Hills," said Anderson, age 16. Anderson said they laid more than 82,000 square feet of sod. "I coordinated with Mark Edwards and Cecil Tuley, planning and getting out fliers. We had about 150 volunteers -- not all at once, but over time during the day."
Bayles, age 16, said his group planted 21 trees throughout the Dalmore Meadows. "We had over 40 people there," Bayles said. "There were from around my neighborhoods, some friends, and some from Dalmore Meadows. We also had a few from the city, like the Fire Department and the parks guys."
In all, Edwards explained that the volunteers saved the city more than $22,000. "It is a pity we can't honor everyone that showed up."
The mayor and City Council, however, were suitably impressed. "I think it is very commendable that people want to get out and contribute to their city," said Jefferson Moss, council member.
"We often hear nothing but the negative of qualities of the youth in this county," said Brent Call, council member. "And then I see you."
"It is neat to see during difficult budget times people contribute," added Denise Kelly, council member. "It builds a sense of community. You helped build something, all of you that contributed. You have buy-in to your community and to our city."
Mia Love, a council member that lives in the area of the park, said, "I would like to publicly thank the City Council members that spearheaded this, and wanted to get as many volunteers as possible. The council is so incredibly diverse, and come up with things you wouldn't normally think about."
Everyone expressed their appreciation to the volunteers and city staff for working together to accomplish these great benefits for the city.
