LAFAYETTE – Dozens of people from UL and around Acadiana came together on Saturday to clean up Girard Park. While some participated in their Day of Service, others were getting the park prepared for Festivals Acadiens et Créoles.
Girard Park now has a facelift after dozens of volunteers put their best foot forward to make the park enjoyable for everyone. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints held their Annual Day of Service, and the AmeriCorps group from UL joined in to help.
“Every year, our church likes to pick a community project, and we are out here mulching, tried to paint, but it was a little rainy. But, we got a lot of mulching and general cleanup done in the park,” said Ryan Foster, a member of the church.
The crew worked together all over the park, putting new mulch around trees, picking up trash, and even going into the water to get debris that is harmful to animals.
“I run out here almost every day of the week, and I just wanted to give back. I know there is too much trash on this planet, and I wanted to help out,” said volunteer Colby Martin.
Five other UL groups also came together today to lend a helping hand to the park. The groups believe that giving back is fundamental, and it’s important to have a clean park ahead of the festival coming next month.
Gabriel Carranza, who is the director of global engagement, spearheaded the UL groups.
“To beautify our city and make sure in a couple of weeks when we have the big festival here, everything is more presentable,” Carranza said.
The park is now more beautiful than it was before the groups came. Now, the animals and everyone visiting have a clean park to enjoy.
