You might call them diamonds in the rough...and today they got a little polishing.
Nearly 100 Southern Adventist University Students converged on some little known community parks in Chattanooga ...to give them some TLC.
The playground at East Lake Park got a brand new layer of mulch...thanks to the student manpower.
Yareliz Valez, "We're just doing what we can to help the community."
Nearly 100 students from Southern Adventist University spread out across the park located at 3100 East 34th Street...to spruce it up a bit...and help keep the space green and sustainable.
Yareliz Valez, "Every year the Freshmen get together and go out and do community service."
But this year for the first time... Brian Smith with Chattanooga Parks and Rec Department says the college chose our parks for their project.
Smith says, "It does go a long way. You're not just helping out an individual you're helping out an entire community."
The students also added a fresh coat of paint to a fence at Montague Park on East 23rd Street.
Michelle Froom, Southern Adventist Student, "Yeah it's definitely going to go faster with everyone helping out."
The City welcomed the free help for the hidden parks that sometimes get overlooked.
Smith, "We do have 65 parks and lots of times we focus on Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park, Ross's Landing and a lot of our resources go to those areas too because they're heavily used, however some of these pocket parks some of these community parks need the same kind of care and love as well. We could hire more staff or we could utilize volunteers and volunteers usually step up to the plate and take good care of their community parks."
Volunteers like these...who tell us they're happy to help.
Valez, "We enjoy doing this very much."
The City says it's always looking for volunteers year round..because without them parks like this would just not be the same.
The students also cleaned headstones and debris at Confederate Cemetery.
And went on Litter Patrol at the South Chickamauga Greenway.
Click here to learn about Chattanooga Parks and Rec New Park Stewardship Program and other opportunities to volunteer.
