ASU gives park some tender loving care

200 volunteers pick up trash, trim trees in north Phoenix

 by Allison Gatlin
 published on Monday, March 31, 2008

Photo Courtesy of Tom Story

TOOL HOW-TO: David Wright, research professional in the School of Materials, briefs volunteers on tool use during the ASU CARES volunteer project at Cave Creek Wash Thunderbird Park.

A Phoenix park got a makeover this weekend with the help of some ASU students and faculty members.

On Saturday, ASU CARES recruited more than 200 students, staff and community members to volunteer at the Cave Creek Wash Thunderbird Park in Phoenix.

Volunteers worked from early in the morning until late in the afternoon to clean up the park. Jobs included collecting trash, trimming trees, removing underbrush and other groundskeeping work, said David Wright, a faculty supervisor with the project.

Wright, a research professional in the School of Materials, said that the goal was to move "literally a mountain of green waste."

"A lot goes into it to make it a safe, well-organized, fun event that gets a lot done in the short amount of time before it gets hot," Wright said.

In the nine years since its creation, ASU CARES, a volunteer organization, has worked with the community in an effort to revitalize the Valley.

The park project was among five other ideas that ASU and the city of Phoenix compiled. Every year, ASU CARES chooses to work in an area near one of the University's campuses. Cave Creek Wash Thunderbird Park is about three miles from ASU's West campus.

The areas selected are often parks in need of a little help, said ASU spokeswoman Leah Hardesty.

"Some parks are put on the wayside," Hardesty said. "The parks seem to be in need."

Volunteer numbers were down compared to previous years, as 300 to 500 people normally turn out, Hardesty said.

She added that ASU CARES must find an area large enough to accommodate the hundreds of volunteers who sign up to help.

Hardesty said the $11,000 project was funded by donations from the ASU Foundation and vice presidents' offices. The money is provided by private and local funds and not from tuition money, she said.

Greg Ehlert, a mechanical engineering Ph.D. candidate, volunteered with ASU CARES for the first time this year. He is new to the area and said he thought volunteering would help him get to know his community.

"I like to volunteer sometimes and to give back a little bit, and I have the chance to learn more of the Phoenix area," Ehlert said.

But Ehlert said he thought if funding were tight, the money could go to a better use.

"As long as finances are good, it's never going to hurt to do things like this," he said.

Reach the reporter at: allison.gatlin@asu.edu.