Parks Appreciation

Lion members Linda Hahn (L) and Susan Badertscher clean out the landscaped edges of Harry Todd Park.

Several Lakewood-based service groups, organizations and hundreds of individuals swarmed onto Lakewood's parks on Saturday, April 28 to participate in the Annual Parks Appreciation Day clean-up. At Harry Todd Park in Tillicum the Lakewood Fire Department and Lakewood First Lions Club joined local residents in cleaning and sprucing up. As other residents took advantage of the first day of fishing season to cast a line into the lake in search for a tasty meal, fire department divers went down under in search for less delectable catches. Among the bags of broken glass, drink cans and other remnants from less-than-responsible citizens taking advantage of the park system divers found other disposed items as large as a full sheet of plywood. Perhaps it was meant for construction of underwater housing?

Hugh Hedges of the Lakewood First Lions Club, the club's most ardent and active Lakewood cleanup activist, pours sweat as he assists in digging out a corner of Harry Todd Park to create more landscaping.

Meanwhile members of Lakewood First Lions tackled landscaping and other landlubbers chores. weeding, raking, digging and trash collection all combined to make the park just a bit more enjoyable for the community for another year.

Divers from the Lakewood Fire Department prepare to descend into the swimming area at Harry Todd Park in search of the discards of the less responsible individuals of our society.

Story and photos by Ed Kane
Freelance Graphics
Lakewood