Longfellow Skaters Dominate Cleanup Effort at Hart Park

Turnout was rather light Saturday morning for the final fall River Cleanup and Weedout at , so by far the largest contingent came from the Longfellow Skaters Club, as eight stalwart members showed up for some community service.

The skaters chose as their duty cleaning out the annual planting beds at the apron of the Rotary Pavilion performance stage, saving labor for the city's . Flowering plants were easy to pull, but deeper-rooted ornamental grasses presented some problem-solving and shovel-wielding lessons.

The Longfellow club has about 30 members this year, said adult coordinator Judy Doyle, and has performed a number of community service projects, including gardening and beautification at their school.

Doyle said that the group does much more for kids than provide an opportunity to skateboard. It's good exercise, promotes discipline, balance and coordination, and its community events develop social skills and civic pride. She believes members do better in school as a result.

The group is independent of but aligned with Tosa Skateboarders United, a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to building a skateboard and BMX bike park at Hart Park. The skate facility has long been approved as part of the ongoing Hart Park development plan, and TSU continues to raise funds.

Saturday's cleanup was sponsored by the Friends of Hart Park.