This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Post-Election Park Cleanup Unites Community

After a rough election season, one Harrison resident wanted to do some good for Veteran's Memorial Park and for the community as a whole.

Harrison resident Anja Porto didn’t like to see her town so divided during the election season. There was so much animosity and resentment during it, she said, that she thought up a way to do something positive.

That idea was carried out this weekend as residents joined her and her family in cleaning up .

Large tree limbs along with plain ‘ol garbage and scrap metal were removed from the trails and woods and placed in bins to be removed by sanitation workers. The two-day event brought out Cub Scouts, firefighters and councilwoman Marlane Amelio, among others.

Find out what's happening in Harrisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Porto quickly spread word of the event by contacting churches and schools. Local businesses donated everything from gloves to garbage bags and area restaurants provided free pizza, drinks and hamburgers.

By the end of Sunday, volunteers had filled three large bins with garbage and had removed car and truck parts, crushed shopping carts, plastic bottles, cans and a boat trailer.

Find out what's happening in Harrisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“There is an old truck still left in the woods,” said F.J. Sheffield, a Harrison firefighter and resident. He and his fellow firefighters used ATVs to drag out larger items.

Besides the car parts and boat trailer, he described the most interesting thing pulled from the woods: an old V8 engine.

There were seven in a week and a half in Harrison last summer, said Sheffield. Fire hose couldn’t be taken to those locations because the trails were muddy and filled with debris. “Now trails are accessible not only for people but for firefighters,” he added.

Harrison’s Pack 6 Cub Scouts came out in force on Sunday, picking up smaller items like plastic cans and bottles.

“It is great community service and recognition toward badges and belt loops,” said chairperson Denise Perito.

Webelos (4th graders) members Trent Perito, Charlie Sheffield, Michael Gentile, along with Bear scout (3rd grader) Tristan Perito enjoyed making a difference in keeping the park clean.

Porto wishes to make the park designated park land so that it cannot be developed. But until that time, she stresses that everyone can do their part by not littering.

“We have a really great facility in town that should be respected and cared for by the whole community, not just by a few,” said Sheffield.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?