The Sandy Springs Heritage Crew Cleans Up Nicely!

Posted on behalf of Kristen Foster

The Sandy Springs Heritage team: (L-R) Carlos Ruiz, Alli Kraft, Kristen Foster, Alan Clark, Lisa Artusio, Erin Cote, Kellie Schoolden, Amy Moua, Brooke Mueller and Stephanie Green (mysteriously missing from this photo: Lee Maddox and Lori Hammock)

Our Labor Day in May project went exceedingly well! The group met at the office (with the exception of a couple real go-getters that were at the park before we got there!) and we got to the park right at 10am, greeted by one of the staff members, Andrea Haney. Once the group was gathered, we talked to Andrea and Carol (another staff member) about the background of the park, events that take place there and some of the jobs we would be doing that day.

After we got some group photos, we met with DJ and Jenn, the park's horticulturists, who brought us to the street side of the park and showed us where we would be laying pine straw. The group geared up with gardening gloves and got to work! There was amazing team work all around and it was an incredible sight to watch everyone pitch in, untie the straw bunches and turn the surrounding areas into beautiful landscape!!

The straw laying project took about an hour and 20 minutes in all and we then moved on to "cleaning up" some of the surrounding areas - the area was recently hit by storms which left various debris in and around the garden areas. Our team split up, some of us helped pile the debris while others helped DJ moved bricks and a few helped with planting some flowers and pulling weeds. Just after the rain started coming down, Stephanie arrived with lunch from My Friend's Place and we all headed indoors to devour our food. We had a great time at lunch, chatting and enjoying sitting around for a few minutes. Then it was time to get back to work!

The rain never let up, but the group was fantastic about pitching in and we split up again to pick up trash and debris from the perimeters of the park - Once that was done, the park had no other jobs that we could perform in the rain and it was time to go. Everyone did a great job helping and working and the park looked incredible! There was a wedding to be held at the park the Saturday after we were there and a couple people in our group did so good that they were invited to come to the wedding!!

We had a wonderful experience and enjoyed giving something back to the community and learning a bit about Heritage Park and Sandy Springs.