Veteran’s Park was busy with many people cleaning and planting last Saturday. Santa Paula Beautiful was the event sponsored by the City of Santa Paula. Photo by Don Johnson

Santa Paula Beautiful - Veterans Park a focus of cleanup effort

March 16, 2005
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly Santa Paula TimesVeterans’ Memorial Park was the focus of the Santa Paula Beautiful! cleanup event, but the sprucing up took place in several areas of the city.Veterans Park, home of the Veterans Memorial as well as the skatepark, was the scene of weeding and planting, with a new paint job for the restrooms thrown in. “We put down mulch and planted flowers” and shrubs, said City Treasurer Sandy Easley, who was among the volunteers. The sand of the Tot Lot play area was sifted and cleaned and grass taken out for a new border area within the park.“I came today because I thought we were spiffing up the skatepark, but I’m cleaning Veterans Park instead,” noted Marisue Eastlake, co-founder of SPAS (Santa Paula Skaters Association), as she leaned on a rake for a moment’s break. Eastlake is a repeat Santa Paula Beautiful! volunteer, and many who helped at the event said they have volunteered for other cleanups.City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz said that Eileen Benedict has been a volunteer at every Santa Paula Beautiful! semi-annual – spring and fall - cleanup event. “Why? Because I love Santa Paula and want to make it and keep it beautiful,” said Benedict, who spent the morning at the park even through she had worked a late shift.
About 50 volunteers donated their time for the cleanup, a “great turnout,” noted Vanessa Camarillo of the city’s Public Works Department. Even Caltrans was at work on the slope at the entrance to Highway 126. Other cleanup crews tackled the now closed Union 76 service station just east of the Santa Paula California Oil Museum and city gateway entrances.Many area merchants and businesses have proven to be highly supportive of Santa Paula’s ongoing effort to beautify the city, with donations ranging from trash bags to snacks.“My sister and I try to help as much as we can if only for an hour or so,” said Mary Santos. “I have little kids and they like to play in the park, so it benefits us as well as the community.”



Site Search

E-Subscribe

Subscribe

E-SUBSCRIBE
Call 805 525 1890 to receive the entire paper early. $50.00 for one year.

webmaster