MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The city is looking for community members to volunteer for its new Adopt-A-Park program. With a rash of violence this year, including 14 children murdered, some wonder if cleaning up community parks could make for a safer summer.
With the school year wrapping up, students will soon swap recess for fun in Memphis parks. The next step is making sure community parks are a safe and clean place to be.
“Yes, I feel safe. It’s an okay neighborhood,” said park-goer Sierra Morton.
She spent some of the afternoon at Mary Elizabeth Malone Park in North Memphis. That is the same place a suspect shot and killed a man near a peace rally last summer.
This year, the city is encouraging community members, organizations, churches, and schools to consider adopting one of Memphis’ 167 parks.
“It involves keeping them litter-free, being eyes and ears of the parks. For example, if there’s any equipment that’s broken or if they see any suspicious activity to report it,” said Memphis City Beautiful executive director Eldra White.
With approval, adopters can plant flowers and trees. The city still needs more volunteers to help the program grow and hopefully contribute to a safe summer outside.
“I think if you clean up somewhere, people will come to sit around a nice, clean area,” Morton said.
The city is working to get WREG an estimate of the number of volunteers signed up so far. Volunteers need to commit to help at least a year, and they must attend a training session. There is more information available here.
