The community of Union came together at the Union City Park this past weekend on the 18th and 19th of July in an event called “Sweeping Through Union.” The project was organized by the Union Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the city administration and saw city workers and community volunteers, even some from outside of Union, working to beautify the city park, doing such tasks as filling up holes, picking up trash, pressure washing all around the area, repairing playground equipment, and numerous other things.
Across both days of the event at least 50 people came and worked. Several workers gave their thoughts on the event.
“It takes the community,” said Dustin Hamrick. “It takes a good community to make everything great. . . . It’s all about the people, and not being afraid to get out and work, giving their time, sacrificing their time. And that’s what it takes. We want really good things in our town and to keep it going.” Hamrick also said that he wanted to set a good example for his children so that they could grow up seeing their parents serve the community.
Presley Russell, one among many youths working at the event, said, “It’s nice, because at one point it just got so dirty so where we couldn’t play, you know? But now it looks nice. The trash is up, and you can’t fall in the holes anymore. It just feels nice.”
“I have younger kids who go play in the park,” said Brooke Fulton. “I want it to look good for them and be safer for them.”
“We’re just trying to make this look good for the city,” said Paul Lowery, Union’s Ward 1 alderman. “This [park] is our main attraction.”
Mayor Robert Blount was also working at the cleanup, along with his wife Teresa Blount, who said that when Mayor Blount ran for office, “everywhere he went, people said, ‘Let’s clean the park; we want to beautify Union,’ and so the Chamber picked up on it, and the community has picked up on it, and everybody’s out working to beautify Union. That’s what we want.”
A long list of goals got achieved during the cleanup. Neal McCarty, president of the Union Chamber of Commerce, said that some of the major accomplishments were:
-Fresh dirt was brought in to fill all the holes and low-lying spots around the park property.
-Hay was spread to help grass to grow.
-Bridges were pressure washed and repaired. The gazebo, pavilion, and all sidewalks, not including the walking track, were also pressure washed.
-Swings were welded and repaired. Other playground equipment is still in the process of getting repaired.
-A good deal of weed-eating and poisoning for ants, wasps, and weeds was done around the park.
-Dugouts, fencings, concession stands, the press box, and the restroom at Sessums Field were thoroughly cleaned and bleacher seating was replaced.
-Signs around the park were washed and/or painted.
-Weeds all around the community center as well as weeds and growth along the sides of trees were pulled and flowers were planted near the community center.
McCarty said that the Chamber of Commerce wanted to “offer a big thanks to Mayor Blount and the administration for coordinating to make this happen and the countless people who worked to provide hydration and snacks for the volunteers and gave money to help the cause.”
The improvement of the park is continuing after the cleanup event, according to McCarty. More cross ties and mulch will be coming in for all the playground areas, and some playground equipment repairs still need to be finished. City workers will maintain the park and grounds, and the park’s disc golf course is in the ongoing process of having repairs made and expanding throughout the park. The Chamber also hopes to do more bush hogging and to clean the creek up.
McCarty said that he hopes the event will inspire people in the community to also keep cleaning up around their property and around the city, saying, “we need the public to do their part and pick up after themselves and continue to keep making our city nice and clean for future generations.”
